Governor Umoh Eno of Akwa Ibom State has warned communities agitating against the “State Map Establishment Bill” to channel their grievances to the court.
The bill, which was passed by the previous State House of Assembly on April 13, 2023, has sparked controversy, particularly among the landlocked LGAs (Esit Eket, Eket, Onna, Mkpat Enin, and Ikot Abasi) that seek to extend their territories through the Obolo lands (Mbo, Ibeno, and Eastern Obolo) to the Atlantic Ocean.
Numerous communities of the Obollo nation have vehemently opposed the bill, staging protests and claiming that the state government intends to claim their ancestral land. Unyenge, a community in Mbo Local Government Area, expressed their resentment through a statement jointly signed by their chairman, Mr. Itama Ekpe, secretary, Kanny Nkwobia, and spokesperson, Bassey Etim. They urged the state government to refrain from passing the bill in order to maintain peace, emphasizing that they are willing to employ legal tools and civil procedures to protect their ancestral territory.
In response, the youths of Eastern Obolo have blocked major roads, including the Okorette Junction, and disrupted the operations of oil companies in their area as a protest against the bill. They have threatened to employ any means necessary to prevent the bill from being enacted.
Governor Eno has called for peace regarding the issue and urged youths and community leaders to avoid instigating conflicts between communities. He warned that those orchestrating violent attacks would be apprehended and face legal consequences. The governor emphasized that since the courts are currently hearing cases related to the mapping issue, it is in the interest of peace to allow the judicial process to unfold rather than fuel a crisis that would hinder progress and development in the state.
Speaking at the Latter House Chapel in the Governor’s Lodge during the June edition of the Government House Monthly Prayer Summit, the governor stated, “Let me speak on the mapping. I know communities have gone to court; when the case is in court, peace should reign. Let’s allow peace to reign, nobody is coming to drag you out of your land. All the fireworks should be taken to the courtroom. Let’s allow the court cases to finish. Let’s not go and instigate any community… Please, we should maintain peace.”
