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People of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have pledged to allow the passing of federal government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project through the Stubb Creek Reserve. Routing the project through the forest reserve has raised tension as the people of Eket and Esit Eket, who claimed ownership of the forest, had issued a caveat emptor barring contractors from the area. However, the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, during the commissioning of a hospital facility in Eket warned the people to steer clear of the land and allow the project to sail through.
Also, the state government, through the Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom (SAN), disputed the claim by leaders of the protesting communities, clarifying that the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak v. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land on any ethnic group or community.
However, Ibeno people, who insist they were the rightful owners of the forest, during a peaceful rally at the weekend hailed Governor Eno for being bold enough to stand by what they described as the “truth” on the disputed oil rich forest reserve. Displaying placards at the local government secretariat with inscriptions such as ‘Ibeno is the true host of Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve,’ ‘Dialoque not dispute, Ibeno is for peace,’ ‘Ibeno says yes to coastal highway,’ Peace is our strength,’ among others, the Ibeno people said they were not averse to development and therefore, would support the federal government’s construction of the super highway as well as allow other prospective investors to come to their community.
Addressing the rally, vice chairman of the local government, Ukpong Okon, who represented the council chairman, Mrs Glory Effiong, appreciated President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. He also commended Governor Eno for his wisdom in handling the disputed forest reserve, which he noted would bring peace and development to the communities. He also applauded Ibeno youths for exercising restraint amid the provocative situation and claims by Eket people.
“We quite appreciate what the youth are doing for coming out here today in an organised protest. We appreciate our nonviolent approach to the issue on ground. Over the period, there have been various write-ups on social media, on paper, even on radio, challenging the ownership of the Stubb Creek. “But that is never an issue. For government to come out to take the bull by the horn, to tell the whole world the truth about Stubb Creek, I think that should put to rest whatever understanding or claim that anybody must have had.
”We in Ibeno seriously and honestly support the government for this move, for this approach to take the superhighway through this forest reserve to open up the rest of Ibeno land to investors to come in,” Effiong said. In his remarks, spokesperson for the Ibeno Elders’ Forum, Barrister Diamond Akpanika noted that what played out was a testament that the Stubb Creek Reserve was not owned by Eket people.
“Today you have seen Ibeno people come out in their white for a rally, white signifies peace, so the people are out to display the character and quality that is engrained in every Ibeno person, that we are peaceful, peace lovers and peace makers. “We are peacefully rallying our support behind, President Bola Tinubu, for constructing the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
We are also rallying our support for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for making sure that the Coastal highway passes through our land and even the governor, pastor Umo Eno for standing by the truth,” he said.