FORMER MINISTER WARNS AGAINST OBOLLO STATE AGITATION, VOWS PROTECTION OF IBIBIO LAND. (PHOTO).

 Former Minister Warns Against Obollo State Agitation, Vows Protection of Ibibio Land

Chief Nduese Essien, a former Minister of Lands and Urban Development and two-term House of Representatives member, has issued a stern warning to proponents of Obollo State creation, declaring that no part of Ibibio land will be ceded to the proposed state. Essien made the remarks during the installation of His Eminence Ntenyin (Dr) Solomon Daniel Etuk as the 4th Grand Patron of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a prominent Ibibio sociocultural organization, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The agitation for Obollo State, championed by the Oro, Ibeno, and Eastern Obolo local government areas, has been a contentious issue, with Essien accusing the Obollo people of attempting to annex Ibibio territory, particularly the resource-rich Stubbs Creek Forest. He described the renewed push for state creation as a “ploy to grab Ibibio land,” emphasizing that the Ibibio people have historically defended their land rights, including through legal battles up to the Privy Council in London.

“Let me emphasize unambiguously: any attempt to appropriate Ibibio land must be vehemently rejected at all times. The ill-fated expedition has been exposed and must come to an end. No part of Ibibio land will be annexed,” Essien declared, addressing a gathering of Ibibio leaders and stakeholders.

Essien referenced past failed attempts by the Obollo people to advance their state creation agenda, including a violent push in 1993 halted by the Justice Ephraim Akpata Commission of Inquiry and a 2014 proposal during the National Conference to merge parts of Akwa Ibom with neighboring Rivers State for a proposed Oil Rivers State. He dismissed the current agitation as lacking merit and vowed that it would meet similar resistance.

During the event, Essien also called on Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio and other sociocultural organizations to transcend ceremonial roles and take a more active stance in safeguarding Ibibio heritage. He urged them to advocate for justice, influence national discourse, and resist being co-opted by political establishments for personal gain. “Our sociocultural organizations must rise to protect our heritage and speak with authority on issues of national importance,” he said.

Essien praised Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, founded in 1987, for its contributions to education, agriculture, tourism, and cultural preservation but cautioned its leadership against allowing the platform to be used for political ambition. He also lauded the newly installed Grand Patron, Oku Ibom Ibibio, describing him as “a link between our glorious past, our beautiful present, and the promise of a bright future.”

The installation ceremony drew prominent Ibibio leaders, community members, and supporters, who echoed Essien’s call for unity in protecting Ibibio interests. The agitation for Obollo State remains a polarizing issue, with potential implications for regional harmony and resource control in Akwa Ibom State.

Neither the proponents of Obollo State nor the Akwa Ibom State government have issued an immediate response to Essien’s statements. As the debate intensifies, observers anticipate further discussions on the delicate balance between state creation aspirations and the preservation of ethnic boundaries.