By: Israel Umoh
The proposed Itai State in the present Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria brought to memories the altruistic and visionary roles played by Dr. Ime Sampson Umanah popularly known as Imesco in a burning quest for creation of the state.
In memory of such glowing role, Senator Christopher Ekpenyong representing Akwa Ibom North West in Nigerian Senate called for a minute silence in honour of Umanah at the prestigious Ati Annang Secretariat, Ikot Ekpene on Saturday, November 7.
It was a solemn moment as the “who is who” in Annang land who gathered for the formal inauguration of steering and other committees on Itai State Movement stood in awe of the personage.
Born October 24, 1943, Uruk Uso, Otoro, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, the late Umanah was an industrialist, businessman, philanthropist and astute politician who pioneered creation of Itai State in 1994 with a repeat in 2004.
Senator Ekpenyong a one-time Akwa Ibom State deputy governor thanked the people for the confidence reposed in electing him to represent them in the Senate inaugurated on January 20, this year.
He said the quest for the state was reinforced by the desire to amend the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and to bring meaningful development to the grassroots not to destablise the age-long brotherhood and unity with others in Akwa Ibom.
The Senator recalled that the Annang Union started agitation for self-actualisation in 1927 under the defunct Nigerian Railways Corporation which metamorphosed into the formation of the Ibibio State Union in 1928.
Ekpenyong announced that based on ‘The Minority Commission in 1957, Annang Province was later created in the Eastern Nigeria, assuring that Itai State has the population, natural and human resources, and a viable and resilient political economy.
The Senator Ovie Omo Agege Constitutional Review Committee in which state creation is one of the 13 thematic areas to undergo surgery sought for memorandum from states and ethnic groups.
To meet the deadline of September 24, 2020 for Submission of the Memorandum to the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee for the Review of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), Ati Annang Foundation in collaboration with other cultural groups from the area such as Afe Annang, Afe Nkuku Annang and frontline Annang leaders submitted their demand for Itai State.
The memorandum was signed by 87 Annang leaders including members of the State and National Assembly from Annang extraction, all the eight paramount rulers, former deputy governor’s, ministers and Commissioners, political, business and community leaders, the Itai Afe Annang, the president of Ati Annang and other prominent Annang leaders.
The memorandum which had the signatories of the “who and who” in Annang informed the National Assembly committee that they had wanted their separate existence as far back as when they were part of the then Eastern Nigeria, thus, proposed Ikot Ekpene as the capital of Itai State.
The agitators explained that, like Bayelsa state which represents the pre-independence Yenagoa Province, Annang was also a province with headquarters at Ikot Ekpene and the first Local Government Area to be established in Africa by the British.
The justification for Itai State is further strengthened by the fact that of the 10 top ethnic groups listed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1975 only the Efik/Ibibio/Annang ethnic group currently has two states in the country.
At the colourful ceremony, Mr. Emem Akpabio, BOT Chairman of Ati Annang Foundation and one of the lead proponents for the creation of Itai State, confirmed that the motivation for requesting Itai state is to bring about even development and the need to redress some of the anomalies that existed in Nigeria federation which is now seen as injustice to the Annang people.
Akpabio a knight of John Wesley explained that Annang was one of the earliest provinces created in the south of Nigeria from a former administrative division which were in use in Colonial Nigeria and shortly after independence; from 1900 to 1967. However, when these Provinces were altered several times to pave way for more states, Annang province was left untouched.
He clarified further that: “Many of the provinces created in the North just like the Annang provinces have been divided into two or more states but the Annang provinces still remains the same.”
Akpabio cited Bayelsa state with only eight local government areas just like Itai State as an example which was a former province created from Rivers State, adding that the Itai State has all what it takes to be a state of its own – such as population, human capacity, natural resources among others to cater for the new state.
In setting the tone, Udo Kierian Akpan, International President of Ati Annang congratulated members appointed into various committees, saying “This is a journey we must make and we cannot pull this through without depending on the resources of your intellect, time, commitment, treasure and networks.”
Akpan, a three-time member and the leader in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly noted, “I have a strong feeling that with inauguration of the committees today, you would hit the ground and leaving no stone unturned in the purposeful mission of achieving a state of our own; a place our children and posterity can call their own and sing the song of freedom freely as their destinies would be in their hands. This is my vision. This is your vision. This is our vision.”
As a back-p to the demand, Okuku Pius Eside IV, the Itai Afe Annang and Obong Cosmas Akpan, the President of Afe Nkuku Annang spoke and aligned themselves with the request for the state.
