Aniefiok Christopher
Angry Akwa Ibom women earlier Tuesday blocked the entrance of the State House of Assembly in protest against the speedy implementation of the amended Traditional Rulers Law recently passed by the House and assented to by Governor Umo Eno.
The women from Annang, Oro and Obolo ethnic groups in their hundreds, dressed in black, stormed the State House of Assembly since 8 a.m., demanding repeal of the obnoxious bill passed recently by the 8th Assembly.
They later sat on the ground singing and crying over what they saw as ‘‘discriminatory and tribalistic policy’’ of the state government.
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Recall that the State’s Assembly had last Friday passed a Bill for a Law to amend the Traditional Rulers Law, Cap. 155 Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2023 (HAB 316), despite protests by the people of Annang people and other ethnic groups in the state.
After assent to the law, the governor swore in Ntinyin Solomon Etuk as the President General of Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in Akwa Ibom on Saturday in marking the 36th state creation anniversary. The occupier will remain in the office in perpetuity.
The protesting women had blocked the entrance to the Assembly with such placards having inscriptions as: “Say No To Tribalism’’, ‘‘Tribalism Breeds Hatred’’, ‘‘Umo Eno, Please Don’t Bring Another Community Crisis’’, ‘‘This Tribal Bill Passed by Government Undermines Our Diversity’’, ‘‘Dear Governor Don’t Divide Akwa Ibom State’’, ‘‘Review The Law,’’ among others.
Addressing Journalists during the protest exercise, Obonganwan Obonodor Uko who led other women from Annang land said the enthronement of the Oku Ibom Ibibio to become the President General, Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers is not only tribalistic but portends danger to the peace and unity of the state.
She explained that past administrations from time immemorial had allowed the leadership of the State traditional institution to be on a rotational basis, wondering why such a bill which seeks to undermine other tribes in the state was urgently assented to despite protests from other tribes that make up the State.
Also speaking, Mrs. Nkoyo Isong from Mbo Local Government Area, who led other women from Oro Nation said the women of Oron, Okobo, Mbo, Udung Uko, Urue Offong/Oruko are seriously against the anti-people’s bil,l and therefore called on the State Governor to repeal the bill in the interest of peace.
She explained that the people of her tribe were very comfortable with the rotational practice were the traditional stools was rotated amongst the ethnic groups in the State and therefore appealed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to have a rethink and make further amendment to reflect the wishes of the people.
Speaking earlier, Dr. (Mrs) Margaret Udofia from Essien Udim and Mrs. I. Ibokette, had said the women of the affected tribe will continue to protest until their demands are met or looked into, for the sake of their children alive and those yet unborn.
The duo who felt betrayed by lawmakers from Annang tribe called on the Governor to urgently take action and commence the process to repeal the obnoxious law to allow peace reign in the state.
It took the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi who after sending a delegation of Senior Police Men, later arrived at the scene of the protest to calm the women with assurance that their grievances have been noted and issues raised will be addressed within the shortest possible time.
