The Ibibio National Union in Akwa Ibom state has announced its members’ rejection of previous zoning arrangements, which allow three major ethnic groups – Ibibio, Annang, and Oro – to take turns in the governorship of the state, saying such a formula is no longer acceptable to them ahead of the 2027 election.
They also made it known in their statement that the chances of the Oro ethnic group occupying the office of governor both in 2027 and beyond were no longer acceptable to the union.
The statement signed by the President of the union, Engr Emmanuel Akpan, and given to journalists in Uyo, also explained that the people of Ibibio would no longer support the rotation of the office of the state’s governor, among other ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom.
They stated, “Ibibio people will no longer support the zoning of the office of the Governor among ethnic groups within the state. Ibibio National Union, which represents the interests of the majority Ibibio ethnic groups, also dismisses the notion that Akwa Ibom stands on a tripod of three ethnic groups: Ibibio, Annang, and Oro.”
According to Akpan, the Ibibio represent the interests of the majority in the state.
He also dismissed the notion that Akwa Ibom state stands on a tripod of three ethnic groups: Ibibio, Annang, and Oro.
“The concept of tripod connotes equality in all material particulars, that a pot stands on three legs shows balance.
“It means each leg is as important as the other, equal in length, breadth, width, density, and mass…we have heard this fallacy for decades that the ethnic tripod of Akwa Ibom State is made up of Ibibio, Annang, and Oro.
“We kept silent and accommodated it for peace and political convenience but this is fallacious.
Akpan said that instead of the fallacy of the tripod, the Ibibio would rely on the three senatorial districts in the state for any future political permutation.
“The truth is that Akwa Ibom State, like every other state in Nigeria stands on a scientific tripod of three senatorial districts – North East (Uyo), North West (Ikot Ekpene ), and South East (Eket),” he said.
The Ibibio union also said that in any composition of multi-ethnic nationalities to form a state or nation-state, some groups would always remain a minority.
It maintained that the Ibibio ethnic group occupied 100 per cent of Uyo Senatorial District, 80 per cent of Eket Senatorial District, and 20 per cent of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, and questioned the presence of other ethnic groups in the state political equation.
“Where are the other groups in the equation? Other ethnic groups are not in large numbers to make any significant difference in the political equation of the State.”
The union also warned the Oro ethnic group to respect themselves, swallow their pride, and seek accommodations in any Ibibio-dominated political space if they wanted to be relevant and produce a governor in the years ahead.
“Other ethnic groups in the state like Oro should face the reality and respect themselves, swallow their pride, seek accommodation in an Ibibio-dominated political space if they want to produce a Governor in the State
“Let it be emphasised that no Oro person can become Governor of Akwa Ibom State without the say so of the Ibibio – the majority and largest ethnic group in the State.
Similarly, another Ibibio group, Mboho Ikot Abasi, led by Mkpisong Chelly Okoko, warned against what he called ‘weaponising minority status as an instrument of terrorising or blackmailing the Ibibio majority on the flimsiest issues in the State.
He described such attitude as “evil as the tyranny of the majority, if not worse.”
In another position on the issue, the umbrella organisation of the people of Ibibio, Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio , stated that though the position of Governor was rotated based on Senatorial districts in the state, the minorities in the various districts should not assume it would be zoned to them.
“Oro people , for instance, must understand that the majority Ibibio nation has a critical role to play for an Oro person to emerge as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.”
Leaders of the organisation, Obong Pius Okon, Ntisong IV and Mkpisong Tony Okpon, Secretary- General, also urged the people of Oro and other minorities in the state to ‘stop insulting and undermining the Ibibio people’.
By Dianabasi Effiong
