By Aniefiok Christopher
The serene Ikot Udom Village, Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom is boiling over alleged imposition of Mr Brendan Obodo as the certified Village Head on the community.
Consequently, the villagers have vowed to resist the imposition seen as an insult on their collective sensibilities.
Straightnews gathered that the family heads had selected Chief Boniface Akpan, not Obodo for recognition as their Village Head.
Scores of the community members last Wednesday stormed Ikot Udom Road with placards, registering their protest against issuance of a certificate of recognition to Mr Obodo, whom they claim, was an unpopular candidate during the selection process for the choice of a new Village Head.
The protesters, which included men, women and the youth of Ikot Udom Village did not only reject, but vowed to resist the rulership of Mr Brendan Obodo, who according to them, was the least qualified amongst the candidates that indicated interest the Ikot Udom Village headship.
Addressing the community members, the Village Chairman, Mr Ubong Usoro had, while rendering the account of his stewardship for the two years he held sway as the Village Council Chairman, distanced himself from the fraudulent process that produced Mr Obodo as the purported Village Head of the community.
According to him, the Village Council had following the burial of their deceased Village Head, constituted a committee to select a new Village Head.
After due diligence, he said, Chief Boniface Christopher Akpan emerged as the duly elected Village Head of the community on July 15, 2023.
Speaking further, he said it was rather unfortunate to note that some unpatriotic citizens of the community had wielded their political powers to thwart the effort of the Village Council, thereby influencing the issuance of a certificate to Mr Brendan Obodo, against the popular will of the people.
He expressed displeasure over the development, adding that such action is capable of destabilising the peace and tranquility currently enjoyed in Ikot Udom Village.
“I wish to categorically state that the process that produced Brendan Obodo was fraudulent and that the Governor was misled to have signed and issued the certificate of recognition against the popular wish of the people,” he stated.
Speaking in the same vein, the Family Head of Nto Ekperikpe, Chief Killian Udoudo Ekpo said the Village Council frowned seriously at the attempt to impose a Village Head on the community members, stressing that his is solely interested in the maintenance of peace and order in Ikot Udom Village.
In their separate remarks, the Family Heads of Nto Akpan Ebok, Chief Kufre Okon and his counterpart from Nto Asanga, said the village is in disarray following the ugly development where a few individuals have altered the decision of the entire village, stressing that they are prepared to resist such an attempt.
The duo maintained that the rulership of Ikot Udom had, over the years, been on a rotational basis, in an attempt to sustain the peace and order in the community.
They, therefore, frowned at the tension created in the village, where the imposed Village Head is reported to be autocratic with the intent to intimidate the people and force his rulership on them.
Calming frayed nerves, a former Transition Chairman of Ika Local Government Area, Sir Boniface Ebewo called on the people to remain calm, recalling with sadness a similar situation in the past where Ikot Udom was thrown into crisis, leading to wanton destruction of lives and properties.
He said his greatest desire for the community members, considering the current economic situation in Nigeria, is for them to continue to live in peace and unity, adding that the community cannot afford to experience another period of crisis, especially now, things are extremely difficult in Nigeria.
Sir Ebewo, a renowned broadcaster and technical director of Real Brass Band, said Governor Umo Eno might not have intentionally signed any certificate, if he had known that doing so would cause panic and tension at Ikot Udom, adding that the Governor must have been misinformed.
He, therefore, assured the villagers that God will listen to their prayers and give them a worthy leader who will attend to their plights at the appointed time.
Joining his voice in the call for peace, Professor Patrick Ebewo, who is the Vice Chancellor of Topfaith University, Mkpatak in Essien Udim Local Government Area, commended the villagers for their maturity and patriotism even in the face of provocation.
While condemning the attempt to impose a ruler on the people, Prof Ebewo, who is an indigene of the village, said he would continue to work for the peace and development of Ikot Udom Village and the people of which, he described as, peace loving.
Other speakers who spoke in unity against the imposition of a Village Head on the people were Obonganwan Rose Udoutun and Dr. Nsidibe Akpan Usoro, among others.
Responding, the Village Head-elect, Chief Boniface Akpan cherished the love and show of solidarity to the Village Council, promising to do his best to maintain law and order in Ikot Udom Village.
