-Says Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio now wailing in wilderness without help
-Condemns Demolition of Mboho’s Secretariat, Community Centre by LAMATA
By the Guide Newspaper
A socio-cultural group in Akwa Ibom State, Ibibio Vanguard, has condemned the demolition and forceful takeover of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio property — which housed Mboho Secretariat and Community Centre — by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), an agency of the Lagos State Government, describing the occurrence as the culmination of a culture of neglect and abandonment of Ibibio Ethnic Nationality by Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Executive of Akwa Ibom State.
Reacting to the incident through a press release titled ‘Speaking to the Conscience of Ibibio Leaders’ and made available to the Guide Newspaper, the group wondered why Governor Umo Eno and other political office holders in Ibibio Nation are watching with alarming silence the Lagos State Government demolition of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio Secretariat which once served as a rallying point of unity, pride and succour to Ibibio nation and Akwa Ibom State at large.
Ibibio Vanguard, in the press release signed by its Chairman, Otuekong Bassey Inwang, and secretary, Francis Udoh Esq. decried the continuous refusal of Pastor Umo Eno to identify with Ibibio Nation since his assumption of office as the governor of Akwa Ibom State and described it as a total discredit to Ibibio ethnic group in the country.
Part of the press release read: “It is sad that Governor Umo Eno has failed to appreciate and come to terms with the fact that he is first an Ibibio son before owing allegiance to Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a country.
“It is however baffling that from the inception of Pastor Umo Eno as the executive governor of Akwa Ibom State in the last two years, the governor has refused to identify with the Ibibios being the highest political office holder from Ibibio Ethnic Stock.
“Pastor Umo Eno’s disconnection from Ibibio race even after enjoying the rare privilege of having his uncle Ntenyin Solomon Etuk as the current Oku Ibom Ibibio which is the highest traditional title in Ibibio land is a cause for concern for every patriotic Ibibio son and daughter”
Ibibio Vanguard further recalled with nostophobia how Governor Eno and his college of commissioners, personal aides and other political office holders in Akwa Ibom State were beclad with Yoruba Ethnic regalia on a symbolic day that Akwa Ibom State marked its 38th anniversary of creation which would have served as a day to project the rich cultural heritage and dress patterns of Ibibio ethnic group as the umbrella ethnic group in the State..
The group called on Governor Eno to ponder about how Senator Godswill Akpabio– his much cherished political grandfather –who holds his Annang ethnic group as his ‘darling bud of May’ would watch in silence the building of Ati Annang socio-political group being demolished in Lagos State.
Ibibio Vanguard further challenged Governor Umo Eno to rummage his historical archives for any possible instance in the past where the building of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) or Ijaw National Congress has been demolished without due compensation.
“The current unpatriotic overtures among Ibibio political office holders in Akwa Ibom State is the worst since the advent of the current democratic republic in 1999. Today, our once reverred socio-political group, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio has been reduced to ‘a stranded child’ begging for relief in Lagos State, even when Governor Eno from Ibibio stock, Prince Eno obong Uwah as the Secretary to the State Government and 60 percent of commissioners in the current State EXCO are from Ibibio Ethnic Group,” Ibibio Vanguard noted in the press release.
Ibibio Vanguard further lamented in its press release, that the current realities have made it clear that Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio only exist as a source of strength for Governor Eno and other politicians in Ibibio land to get political endorsement even as they are planning to return for such political ritual ahead of 2027 election.
The group condemned in strong terms, the current atmosphere experienced in the state where everyone including traditional rulers are afraid to tell the governor the truth for fear of sanction and denial of privileges.
Ibibio Vanguard wondered why Governor Umo Eno has chosen to make history as the highest political office holder in Ibibio land to bring Ibibio Ethnic Group to a subject of redicule in Nigeria.
The group reiterated its earlier call on Governor Umo Eno to work with Oku Ibom Ibibio Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, and call for Ibibio summit where every Ibibio son and daughter across all political divide will be allowed to speak in an atmosphere that is devoid of intimidation.
