Dr. Asuquo Inuikim, the former President General of Oron Union, has voiced his concerns over the need for an immediate amendment to the Traditional Rulers Law CAP 155 of Akwa Ibom State to restore peace and harmony within the state.
He criticized the law, which was passed by the State House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Umo Éno, labeling it as satanic and discriminatory.
The amended law, which permanently designates the position of President-General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers to the Oku Ibom Ibibio, has sparked division and chaos within the state. Various youth and women groups from minority tribes have expressed opposition to the law, asserting that it does not represent their wishes and aspirations.
Inuikim, in a statement, chastised the lawmakers for disregarding the desires of their constituents and for enacting a law that further marginalizes and divides the state’s citizens. He emphasized that the law infringes upon the rights and freedoms of citizens, raising questions about why the President-General must exclusively come from Ibibio land.
The concerns center around the perpetuation of Oku Ibom Ibibio as the sole occupant of the President-General’s office, which effectively ends the rotational process of the headship of the Traditional Rulers Council. Inuikim argued that the law suggests that some ethnic groups are considered inferior to others, resembling a form of modern-day slavery.
Furthermore, Inuikim criticized the attempt to undermine the rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Chiefs, which contradicts the wisdom and practices of the state’s pioneer royal fathers who established the rotational headship of the council.
While calling for a reconsideration of the legislation, Inuikim urged the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to rectify the injustice by promoting inclusivity, unity, and fairness among all citizens. He stressed that discriminatory laws cannot stand when in contravention of the Nigerian Constitution, and he called for the restoration of lasting peace, harmony, and unity in the state.
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