*Backs Udonsak, clears air on new state agitation

The umbrella union for the Ibibio-speaking people of Akwa Ibom State – Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, has condemned attacks by Oron-speaking people on the leader of Ekid People’s Union, Dr Samuel Udonsak, for allegedly exposing the antics being deployed by the Oron people to secure the creation of Oro-Obolo State out of Akwa Ibom State.

The Ekid Peoples Union President, Udonsak, had used the inauguration of the 12th International President and Executive Council of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio International in Uyo, held earlier on July 24, to expose the steps being taken by their Oro neighbours to undermine the Ibibio in their bid to secure Oro-Obolo State, a development that led to his attack.
Udonsak, who was invited in his capacity as the Leader of Ekid People’s Union had said that contrary to renewed claims, Oro Nation is not a littoral community, as it does not have any direct border whatsoever with the Atlantic shoreline.

Insisting that no official map in history or any judgement/pronouncement of court in any of the various historical decided cases on the matter, has ever shown Oro Nation as a littoral region, he also argued that the resurgence of the Oro-Obolo consciousness and its quest for Obolo State creation is a game plan by the Oro ethnic group to tactfully annex parts of Southern Ibibio ancestral lands into Oro Nation so as to gain access, and make inroads to the seashore in aboriginal Ibibio territory.

Reacting to the attack, the umbrella Ibibio union, Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, threw its weight behind Udonsak, who it held, spoke the truth backed by facts and figures dating many decades.
The Ibibio group stated: “Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio knows that the core essence of the scheme is for Oro Nation to gain land contiguity to the Obolos in Eastern Obolo LGA for the purpose of the creation of their proposed Oro-Obolo State on parts of Ibibio soil and land.”

President Udonsak warned that if the Ibibio, the majority ethnic group, keep quiet and allow Oro Nation to pull through its scheme and game plan of disconnecting the Ibibio from the Atlantic coastline and making the coastline part and parcel of the proposed Oro-Obolo State, the economy of the rest of Akwa Ibom State and its people (the Ibibio and the Annang) will be totally strangulated.

“This is the patriotic point Udonsak vehemently made, not just for the Ibibio but for the rest of Akwa Ibom people”, the union said in a statement jointly signed by the Ntisong Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, Obong P.J Okon and the Secretary General, Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, Obong Tony Okpon.

“Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio recognizes and respects the rights of all Oro people (currently living in Oron, Okobo, Urue Offong/Oruko, Udung Uko and Mbo LGAs), Obolo people (currently living in Eastern Obolo LGA) and Ibeno people (currently living in Ibeno LGA) of Akwa Ibom State, to seek a geographical entity (State) of their own.

“Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio and all Ibibio people at large, however, firmly hold the position that “no village, no section, no part, no inch of any of the Ibibio LGAs in Akwa Ibom State shall be made part of the proposed Oro-Obolo State, or any other State”.

“Clearly, the President of Ekid People’s Union, Udonsak, was therefore only re-echoing and re-sounding the non-negotiable position of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio and the generality of Ibibio people, at home and in the diaspora, on the matter.

“Accordingly, Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio does not only align with, but also wholly owns up to the message eloquently delivered by Udonsak to the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio International convergence on July 24, 2026, for the inauguration of the 12th International President and Executive Council of the Organization.
“The personal attacks of Oro Union, their sons and daughters on Udonsak are therefore totally unwarranted, and Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio warns that the attacks should stop forthwith.”

Adding: “There are copious historical and legal facts and evidence, which confirm and affirm the full Ibibio aboriginal ownership of the ancestral lands in Esit Eket, Eket, Onna, Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin LGAs – that directly bound the Atlantic Ocean at various points, and which have been the core targets of agitators for the creation of a new state in the region, by way of annexure of parts thereof into the proposed Oro-Obolo State.

“Oro is not littoral and can never be allowed to selfishly claim such, not only wrongly and brazenly, but to the objectionable, extortionist detriment of the Ibibio now and for all times.

“Oro can continue to benefit like any other community from the commonwealth of Akwa Ibom State in peace.
“As the majority ethnic group in the state, the Ibibio have been more than fair to all others and hope to remain so, but being taken for granted must stop. Contrary to their consistent and persistent claims, Oro Nation has not been marginalized in the public affairs of the state”, the statement said.

From Sofia Omolaoye, Abuja