*Say they are not opposed to Ijaw, Obollo State

The coastal people of Akwa Ibom State have reacted to attempts by some groups to politicize the mapping of the state by the state House of Assembly, noting that the action was based on court rulings spanning years.

Coming as a Coalition of Aboriginal Coastal Local Government Areas of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna, Mkpat Enin and Ikot Abasi, the group in a statement issued Saturday in Abuja and signed by the President General, Ekid Nation, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, expressed worries over falsehood being introduced into an entirely legal procedure, leading to disturbance of public peace in parts of the state.

It therefore warned those fanning the embers of crisis over the issue to be properly guided by historical and legal facts, and desist from perpetrating violence in the state.

Dr. Udonsak said: “The leadership of the coastal LGAs met to review the mapping of the state, the disturbances within its territory and the need to improve security within its areas. It also found the need to also address unsuspecting public on the facts of our Littoral status.”

While commending the State House of Assembly, immediate past Governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel and the State Surveyor General for their courage to give Akwa Ibom State an official map since its creation, the group believed that the mapping will end the perennial conflicts caused by lack of official boundaries between some local governments in the state, especially along their Atlantic coastline.

“Akwa Ibom State has never been mapped before and we agree that this exercise is the constitutional responsibility of the state. The Coalition condemns the ugly violence and destruction of lives and property at Ikot Akpan Udo village in Ikot Abasi LGA, Coconut Plantation and the skirmishes at Esit Urua village, Eket LGA by Ibeno, Eastern Obolo and their Ijaw mercenaries against the peaceful aboriginal coastal communities.

“We call on the government to speedily restore order, bring all the perpetrators to book and increase their security presence in all the vulnerable aboriginal coastal communities.”

The coalition noted that the ownership of the entire coastline of the state has been determined in perpetuity by various courts, some as far back as 1918.

“In 1941, in the celebrated Down Bellow case, the West African Court of Appeal (WACA) (C/8/1943) gave all the land, left bank of Imo River as far down to Opobo River to Qua Iboe River to Ibibios; which today are the people of Ete.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ijaws, including those who have just suddenly realized that they are Ijaws and Obollo must be contented with lands donated to them by our forebears when they the Ijaws arrived on our shores. When they arrived, they did not bring any land in the boats with them.

“The Coalition would like to put the Ijaws and Obollo on notice that we are not opposed to their continuous canvassing for Ijaw or Obollo State or any State of such appellation (as they did during the 2014 National Conference) but no Ibibio aboriginal land would be part of such State.”

Adding: “While it is our choice to stay with our Ibibio kith and kin in a united Akwa Ibom State, we do not prevent them from returning to their homeland and join their Ijaws and Obollo brothers in their State rather than whip false public sentiments on what does not rightly, legally and naturally belong to them”, the coalition stated.