Attah, Ibibio Paramount Rulers At War

The ex-Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Victor Attah, is enmeshed in a verbal war with the paramount rulers of the Ibibio land as recent events reveal.

Lately, in an interview with an Akwa Ibom-based newspaper(not Community Pulse), Obong Attah was quoted as saying that HRM Akpabio Udo Ukpa is the Oku Ibom 111, an utterance that has since sparked off mixed reactions from the traditional fathers and annoyed a large number of them. In the said interview, Obong Attah had questioned the rationale behind the controversial stand of some people who continue to insist that since the late Usonyin Okon Ekpo Ekpo was not properly buried, a new Oku Ibom could not emerge.

The elder statesman had questioned the emergence of Chief Ita Etuk who took over from the late Usonyin as Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan and insisted that the emergence of another Paramount Ruler after the death of Usonyin Ekpo only smacks of double standards.

However, returning fire for fire, the traditional chiefs in a release signed by the Paramount Rulers of Nsit Ubium (HRM Edidem Robert J. Obot), Etinan (HRM Edidem D. Umoette), Ibiono Ibom (HRM Okuku Ime Udousoro Inyang), Uruan (HRM Edidem), Itu (HRM Edidem Akpan Inyang), Ikono (HRM Edidem Effiong Akpan Ineme) and Uyo (HRM Edidem Silas Akpan) and made available to the Community Pulse, accused Obong Attah of complicity in the on-going saga of confusions and disrespect to customs and traditional norms in Ibibio land.

“The present state of confusion, anarchy and complete disrespect to our customs and traditional norms is the legacy left behind in Ibibio land by Obong (Arc.) Victor Attah”, the paramount rulers said, adding also that Obong Attah “has no right whatsoever to speak on behalf of the Ibibios.”

Going headlong into the matter, the paramount rulers posited that the appointment of a paramount ruler is covered by the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers law, whereas te selection of and enthronement of Oku Ibom Ibibio purely a traditional matter vested only in the paramount rulers of Ibibio land.

Going hard on the ex-governor, the chiefs accused him of not making any provision for the Oku Ibom in his eight years as governor and warned him to allow the burial of Oku Ibom II to be concluded in peace “which the present administration has shown tangible concern to correct the confusion that he created and left behind”.

Ini Edo's Interview

I was greatly disgusted to read what Akwa Ibom born actress, Ini Edo vomited in a recent interview in your paper where she said that she will get pregnant when she wants to.

I don't know what all these Nollywood actresses are turning into. Maybe Ini Edo has forgotten that this is an African setting and that she is an African woman.

I wonder if se is emulating the western culture. This is Africa and no woman has the right to determine when she gets pregnant. I am bound to believe that with the statement Ini Edo made, she is controlling her Edo-born US-based husband. I fault in totality the delectable actresses' statement on when she wants to get pregnant.

Who is the Sponsor of Kidnappings in Akwa Ibom?

Please permit me to ask you this question that keeps giving me sleepless nights and restless days. My question is: who is the sponsor of kidnapping incidents in Akwa Ibom?

I need an answer because the thing is on the increase and people are not safe anymore? Is it because of politics or the sign of end time?

No Bank Attack Without Insider Link

In your last weekend edition, you reported how the First Bank Plc, Essene branch, Ikot Abasi was attacked by robbers. It's my belief that no robbery attack can take place in a Bank without an insider leaking the bank's secrets to the robbers.

So First Bank and other banks should know the type of staff in their employ and screen them properly.

Re: After Amodu, Who Next?

I'll like to comment on the back page sports feature story on who is taking over from Amodu in your last weekend edition. Believe me, NFF are embarking on a white elephant project. They are surely going to give us another Berti Vogts.

Have you ever seen an employer going to look for whom to employ? This is what the occupants of the Glass House are doing. Among the top men in the wanted list, they will meander and come up with a miniature coach as the Super Eagles' Technical Adviser for the World Cup.

Those men are just toying with our football. Let's just keep watching; when they conduct the interview at London next week Friday, we will all see who they will say is the best for the job. May God help Nigerian football.

Area Boys Loot Church Offering, Stab Pastor

On page 10 of your last weekend edition, you reported how area boys stormed the Christ Fountain Fellowship church, Calabar, Cross River State, looted the church offering and stabbed the resident pastor.

You people shouldn't bother reporting such a disgusting incident. Whosoever enters a church, and loots the church offering is owing God a debt; and cannot go unpunished.
Innocent Elijah, Uyo

Clan Heads Rise Against Kidnapping

Clan heads in Akwa Ibom State have raised their royal voice against what they described as an upsurge in kidnapping in the state.

Coming under the aegis of Assembly of Clan Heads in Akwa Ibom State, the royal fathers condemned in totality the recent abductions in the state.

They noted that traditional institutions have recently become a target of these criminal elements with reference to the Clan Head of Inen in Oruk Anam, His Highness Obong John Obusi and the Paramount Ruler of Okobo, Obong Bassey Andam Ibok who were both abducted recently in different kidnapping cases in the state. They described the kidnapping as an unproved affront of the traditional institution. They warned those involved in the illicit act to retrace their steps as according to them, the traditional institution will resist such further attempts.

A release signed by the state chairman of the institution, Okuku Pius Effiong Eside thanked the State Governor, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio for the positive steps taken so far to ascertain the recent security crisis including the recent stakeholders' meeting called by him to brief the state on the present security situation.