The Obolo Youth Coalition Worldwide, representing Akwa Ibom youths, has issued a stern warning, stating that the disputed new map of the state could lead to anarchy.
The group has urged the state government to remove the contested map from the official state calendar to maintain peace.
In a statement to a correspondent in Uyo, the Obolo youths highlighted that the publication of the map in the 2024 state government calendar is still subject to ongoing litigation.
The map, initiated by former Governor Udom Emmanuel, has faced opposition from various communities and groups in Eastern Obolo.
These dissenting voices argue that the map cedes villages and ancestral coastal regions to the Ibibio people of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna, Mkpat Enin, and Ikot Abasi.
The matter is currently under consideration before the Federal High Court 2, with the case number FHC/UY/48/2023.
In a letter addressed to Governor Umo Eno, the Obolo Youth Coalition expressed disappointment over the handling of the Traditional Rulers Amended Law and the alleged infrastructural neglect of the area by successive governments.
The letter, signed by Emmanuel Essang and Animisa Romokere Mark, the president-general and secretary-general of the Obolo Youth Coalition (OYC) Worldwide, respectively, also raised concerns about the non-appointment of a commissioner from Eastern Obolo extraction into the state executive council.
The letter received further endorsement from Edet Eyo, the national president of Oro Youth Movement, and Edet Iyahakwa, the national secretary-general of Oro Youth Movement, among others.
The tensions surrounding the disputed map and the issues raised by the youth coalition underscore the need for a diplomatic and legal resolution to prevent potential unrest in the region.