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By Assam Abia.
Ekid People’s Union (EPU), on behalf of Ekid Nation has warned that the continuous, illegal and provocative encroachment of Ekid land in Akoiyak (Stubbs Creek Forest) by agents of Ibeno Local Government, and security agencies’ siege of Esit Urua Palm Plantation are grave and dangerous threats to peace.
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In a press statement signed by its National President, Dr Samuel Udonsak and Secretary General Hon (Barr) Bassey Dan Abia, the Union drew the attention of the State Governor and the general public to brewing acts of potential threats to peace, stating that,
“It has come to our attention that agents of Ibeno Local Government in convenience with the State Ministry of Lands have cleared large swatches of land at Odoro Okuku within Akoiyak (Stubbs Creek Forest), bonafide property of Ekid; and are now pegging it with the intention of building a health facility for Ibeno Local Government Area on Ekid Land”,
“Also our people living in Ndito Eka Iba village have informed us that Ibeno people in convenience with agents of State Government have leased our land at Ndito Eka Iba to a Chinese company, and presently are clearing our economic crops there and such developments are grave provocations and violations of the fundamental rights of the Ekid people”, the release stated.
EPU stated further that such provocative acts does not only envelope crisis but also constitute breaches of the Forest Reserve Ordinance of 1948 (as
amended), and Forest Reserve Regulations, and a further violation of the Governorβs order of 1st March 2024 forbidding any further development on the Stubbs Creek Forest.
“We deem this act as the ultimate incitement and provocation of the Ekid people to action, for we have every right to defend ourselves, our interest, and our territory”, the press statement stated, adding that despite the Governor’s warning forbidding further encroachment on the land, agents of State Government and Ibeno are still beating the drums of war.
Stating further, EPU said that the Stubbs Creek Forest has never been acquired from the Ekid people by any government and therefore is not State land, but a land only regulated by the government under the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve Ordinance 1930 (as amended) and that Ekid people of Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas, at law and equity, are the rightful owners of the Stubbs Creek Forest in perpetuity.
“The only part of the Stubbs Creek Forest (Akoiyak) known to law and the Ekid people to have been de-reserved and legally acquired from the Ekid people is the ExxonMobil QIT Facility location, and due compensation was paid to Ekid people and no other, the Akwa Ibom State Government is with the records and therefore seized of the facts. There can be no pretence of ignorance”,
On security agencies’ siege of the Esit Urua Palm Plantation, EPU made it clear that the Palm Plantation is not, and has never been a part of the Stubbs Creek Forest or Forest Reserve, adding that from time immemorial, it is and has been the farmland and Plantation of Esit Urua people of Ekid, no other claim exist to the contrary to date.
“The Plantation is not wild, but the sweat and industry of the hard-working people of Esit Urua. They depend on it for their livelihood, including paying children school fees and upkeep. The mistaken, unfortunate and unjust siege on it, in the name of Stubbs Creek Forest or Forest Reserve, should be lifted immediately”, EPU said.
“When His Excellency the Governor of Akwa Ibom State visited in the aftermath of the crisis on 1st of March 2024, he promised to remove all illegal structures in the Stubbs Creek Forest but as at today, they have not been removed, rather, Ibeno is exclusively allowed and protected, to continue to build more permanent structures in the Stubbs Creek Forest, notwithstanding that the building of permanent structures on Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve is in violation of enabling laws”,
“Attempt to build the Health Facility/Center on Ekid land for Ibeno by the State Government or any person portrays nothing but persecution and conspiracy against the Ekid people and their interest”,
Ekid Nation, the statement stated, are peaceful and law abiding people. They strongly called on Ibeno Local Government and agencies of the State Government to abide by the Governor’s order of 1/3/2024 forbidding further development on the Stubbs Creek Forest, including the proposed health center as it is in contravention of the Forest Reserve Ordinance.
“It is not enough for the Governor to issue verbal orders on the Stubbs Creek Forest as this has no force of law. His Excellency, the Governor should, by Executive Order or actions, courageously enforce the extant laws on the Forest Reserve”,
“The order and siege on Esit Urua Palm Plantation should be lifted to allow the people to continue with their economic activities for their sustenance’,
EPU called on the State Governor to ensure that all illegal structures in the Stubbs Creek Forest are removed and forestall the erection of more illegal structures as a matter of grave urgency, to mitigate the building tension in Ekid Nation, adding that it can not guarantee the action of Ekid youths over the injuries and injustice done on Ekid.
