From Aniekan Aniekan
The proposal to create Obolo State from the present Akwa Ibom State has faced strong opposition from stakeholders, including the Ibibio community in Cross River State.
Presenting a memorandum at the South-South Centre B Zonal Public Hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution in Calabar, Cross River State, the President General of Oro-Obolo Peoples’ Union, Engr. Ngerebara Sampson Adumu, demanded the creation of Obolo State.
He stated that the proposed state would comprise seven local government areas (LGAs) in Akwa Ibom State—Oron, Okobo, Urue-Offong/Oruko, Eastern Obolo, Mbo, Ibeno, and Udung Uko—as well as Andoni in Rivers State.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0’); });
However, the proposal has met with significant resistance from stakeholders, particularly the Ibibio community in Cross River State.
Sir Udo Bassey, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ibibio Community in Cross River State, in an exclusive interview, explained why the Ibibio oppose the proposal.
He said the inclusion of Ibibio lands, specifically Ibeno and Eastern Obolo, in the proposed Obolo State is erroneous, as Obolo State cannot be created on Ibibio ancestral land.
“We the Ibibio are saying no to Obolo State as being proposed because they are occupying Ibibio land. They cannot create a state on somebody’s land.
“The Ibibio have 18 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, including Ibeno and Obolo, because they (Obolo) are occupying our land, we count them in as our subjects.
“If you include Ibeno and Obolo in the proposed state, then you have shortchanged us. We are not opposed to Obolo and Ibeno having their own state, but it should be on their own land and not Ibibio land. That’s the position of the Ibibio people,” he said.
The post Constitution review: Obolo State proposal meets resistance from Ibibio community appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
