The Attah of Eket, Chief Nduese Essien.
By Anietie Akpan
The Attah of Eket, Chief Nduese Essien, has issued a stern warning against ongoing attempts to annex Ibibio ancestral lands under the guise of state creation, calling such moves, “land grabbing in disguise.”
He made the statement while addressing the installation ceremony of the Oku Ibom Ibibio, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Etuk, as the Grand Patron of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio in Uyo at weekend.
Speaking at the high-profile event, Chief Essien, a revered elder statesman and former federal legislator, recounted a century-long history of aggressive efforts to seize control of the Ibibio coastline, particularly the Stubbs Creek Forest, which he said had been lawfully defended by the Ibibio people up to the Privy Council in London.
”Today, the same people, with new allies from neighbouring states, are trying again this time under the guise of creating an Obolo State,” Chief Essien declared.
”Let me emphasise unambiguously: any attempt to appropriate Ibibio land must be vehemently rejected at all times”, he said adding, “the ill-fated expedition has been exposed and must come to an end. No part of Ibibio land will be annexed.”
He decried the repeated attempts at encroachments, highlighting the second wave of aggression through violence in 1993, which was halted by the Justice Ephraim Akpata Commission of Inquiry, and a third in 2014 during the National Conference, where collaborators sought to merge the area with a part the neighbouring Rivers State for a proposed “Oil Rivers State.”
Chief Essien’s remarks drew resounding applause from the audience, which included traditional rulers, top government dignitaries, professionals, youth leaders, and the press.
While the Grand Patron installation of the Oku Ibom Ibibio was the central event, the Attah of Eket used the opportunity to challenge Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio and other sociocultural organizations to rise beyond ceremonial functions and play a stronger role in protecting Ibibio heritage, advocating for justice, and influential opinions on national discourse.
He praised Mboho’s achievements since its establishment in 1987, including educational institutions, agricultural enterprises, tourism outfits and cultural initiatives, but urged its leadership to resist being used as a platform for personal political ambition.
“Mboho must develop the courage to speak truth to power,” he said. “Its loyalty must be to the people, not to any political establishment.”
Addressing the youth directly, Chief Essien emphasized the importance of cultural preservation and historical consciousness, calling on them to speak the Ibibio language fluently, uphold traditions, and reject vices such as cultism and disrespect for elders.
The installation of the Oku Ibom Ibibio as Grand Patron was hailed as a symbolic alignment between traditional authority and the aspirations of the Ibibio people.
According to Chief Essien, “the Oku Ibom now serves as a link between our glorious past, our beautiful present, and the promise of a bright future.”
The ceremony closed with renewed calls for unity among all Akwa Ibom people, with the Statesman’s call on sociocultural groups to pursue a collective identity and direct their energy toward national relevance and developmental programmes.
