The individuals of Ibeno Native Authorities Space of Akwa Ibom State have expressed willingness to permit the passing of Federal authorities’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal freeway challenge by means of the Stubb Creek Reserve.
Routing the challenge by means of the forest reserve has raised lots of pressure because the individuals of Ekid (Eket and Esit Eket), whereas claiming possession of the forest, had issued a caveat emptor barring contractors from the realm.
Nonetheless, the state governor, Umo Eno through the commissioning of a hospital facility in Eket, warned the individuals to avoid the land and permit the challenge to see the sunshine of the day.
Additionally, the state authorities, by means of the Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN, disputed the declare by the leaders of Ekid nation, clarifying that the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak v. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, determined by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, didn’t vest possession of Stubbs Creek land on any ethnic group or group.
Nonetheless, Ibeno individuals who insist they’re the rightful homeowners of the Stubb Creek Reserve, throughout a peaceable rally on Saturday hailed Governor Eno for being daring sufficient to face by what they described because the “reality” on the disputed oil wealthy Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve with out minding whose ox was gored.
Clad in white and displaying placards on the native authorities secretariat with inscriptions reminiscent of ‘Ibeno is the true host of Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, ‘Dialoque not dispute, Ibeno is for peace’, ‘Ibeno says sure to coastal freeway’, Peace is our power” amongst others, the Ibeno individuals stated they weren’t averse to growth, due to this fact, would assist the Federal Authorities’s building of the tremendous freeway in addition to enable different potential traders to return to their group.
Addressing the rally, vice chairman of the native authorities, Ukpong Okon, who represented the chairman of the council, Mrs Glory Effiong, appreciated President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the Lagos-Calabar coastal freeway challenge.
He additionally counseled the state governor Umo Eno for his knowledge in dealing with the disputed Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve controversy, which he famous would deliver peace and growth to the communities.
He additionally applauded Ibeno youths for exercising restraint amid the provocative state of affairs and claims by Eket individuals.
”We fairly respect what the youth are doing for popping out right here right this moment in an organized protest. We respect our non-violent strategy to the difficulty on floor. Over the interval, there have been varied write-ups on social media, on paper, even on radio, difficult the possession of the Stubb Creek.
“However that’s by no means a difficulty. For presidency to return out to take the bull by the horn, to inform the entire world the reality about Stubb Creek, I believe that ought to put to relaxation no matter understanding or declare that anyone should have had.
”We in Ibeno severely and truthfully assist the federal government for this transfer, for this strategy to take the superhighway by means of this forest reserve to open up the remainder of Ibeno land to traders to return in,” Effiong stated.
In his remarks, spokesperson for the Ibeno Elders’ Discussion board, Barrister Diamond Akpanika, famous that what performed out was a testomony that the Stubb Creek Reserve was not owned by Eket individuals.
“right this moment you have got seen Ibeno individuals come out of their white for a rally, white signifies peace, so the persons are out to show the character and high quality that’s engrained in each Ibeno individual, that we’re peaceable, peace lovers and peace makers.
“We’re peacefully rallying our assist behind, President Bola Tinubu, for establishing the Lagos-Calabar coastal freeway. We’re additionally rallying our assist for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for ensuring that the Coastal freeway passes by means of our land and even the governor, pastor Umo Eno for standing by the reality,” he stated.
