REACTION OF IBENO COMMUNITY TO THE PUBLICATION ON PAGE 7 OF THE INK VOL. 2. 75 DATED TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST – MONDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2014, CAPTIONED “PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY BELONGS TO EKID NATION NOT IBENO – OKOIYAK LANDLORDS”

REACTION OF IBENO COMMUNITY TO THE PUBLICATION ON PAGE 7 OF THE INK VOL. 2. 75 DATED TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST – MONDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2014, CAPTIONED “PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY BELONGS TO EKID NATION NOT IBENO – OKOIYAK LANDLORDS”

Our attention has been drawn to the publication on page 7 of The Ink Newspaper printed and published by Lens-Ink Media Communications, Uyo in AKwa Ibom State under the caption “Petrochemical Industry site belongs to Ekid Nation not Ibeno – Okoiyak Landlords”.

In the said publication, one Dr. Obioba Daniel Obioba alleged to be chairman of the group of the so-called landlords of Okoiyak (Stubbs Creek) who spoke under the aegis of Okoiyak Claimants Asociaiton, disclosed that the land on which the Akwa Ibom State Government sites the petrochemical industry belongs to Ekid Nation and not Ibeno.

The alleged statement credited to Dr. Obioba Daniel Obioba is misleading and mischievous and portrays a gross misrepresentation of the facts surrounding the home land of Ibeno people as well as it is provocative in inciting.

For the avoidance of doubt and for the purpose of keeping the records straight, the land in which the Petrochemical Industry is sited belongs to Ibeno and not Ekid Nation. From historical facts, the Ibeno people are among the earliest settlers on the Atlantic Coast where they have remained till today. Historical facts and colonial documents have unequivocally confirmed this assession. It  is also on record that most Eket villages takes their origin from Ibeno even though Eket people maintain that they found themselves emerging from the ground to exist where they are now. Ibeno people are primarily fishermen and they have maintained that industry from the beginning of their life till now.

2.        Ibeno Local Government was created vide the Local Government Decree No 7. Of 1997, CAP A61 Federal Republic of Nigeria Decree 1997, and before the creation, the entire area of land occupied by the people of Ibeno have always been in effective and total occupation, and control by them including the land on which the petrochemical industry is sited. This recent claim by Dr. Obioba only represents a mere figment of imagination of the alleged claimant, since it is not supported by concrete facts on which a claim for title to land can be based. A mere reference to suit No. FHC/UY/CS/53/2003 dated 19th October, 1998 and an alleged judgment arising therefrom is not enough. In any case it would be preposterous to join issues with Dr. Obioba. However it is our intention to refer the matter of this publication to our lawyers since there is a case in the High Court of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in connection with the so called “Okoiyak” land and all matters connected therewith are subjudice.

3.        However the Ibeno people cannot be intimidated when it comes to the issue of protecting their land and they are absolutely confident in that all traditional and colonial records at their disposal confirm that the land on which the Petrochemical Industry is sited belong to them.

4.        Indeed it is proper to mention here and now that even the Gas Processing Facility allegedly named after Uquo in Esit Eket is built on Ibeno Land. As one passes from Uquo to Ibeno the cast excavation of sharp sand going along the road, shortly after the Gas Processing Facility is carried out on Ibeno Land. These show that Ibeno Community has great control of land along the axis leading to the home-stead of the Esit Eket community of the Ekid Nationality. The Ibeno people having appreciated the uncommon transformation of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State reserve their right at an appropriate time to negotiate for compensation in connection with the land on which the Gas Processing Facility is sited.

5.        Traditional records coupled with Colonial Reports backed up by Maps, confirm that what is called Esit Eket and Eket described more appropriately as ethnic Eket and all their clans do not occupy lands up to Stubbs Creek area.

6.        Indeed by Spence Report and the Sketch Map attached thereto, there is a vast area of Ibeno land separating Stubbs Creek from the lands of Esit Eket or ethnic Eket.

7.        The Ibeno forefatehrs ought to have been congratulated for their acts of benevolence and magnanimity to have allowed the Eket forefathers to fish in the Stubbs Creek in the olden days, it is pertinent to add here that the insinuations bordering on ownership or otherwise of the so-called “Okoiyak Land” could in this recent time militate against such benevolence and magnanimity which was exhibited by Ibeno forefathers in favour of their neighbours of Eket considering the challenges of today. The Ekets have never fished in the open sea, all that they claim to fish had been with the use of traps and “Ikpa” in the Stubbs Creek, with the permission of the Ibeno people which today they have denied. It is a pity and unfortunate that this publication by Dr. Obioba has come at a time that there is relative peace and cooperative neighbourliness between the Ibeno community and Ekid community. For this, credit goes to the Governor and Government of Akwa Ibom State for promoting this spirit of co-existence between the two groups.

8.   Finally, we cannot end this reaction without pointing out the fact that the ownership of Ibeno Lands by Ibeno Community has always received Government recognition and approval even in this period of the existence of the Land Use Act.

The Government of the South Eastern State with Colonel U. J. Esuene, an Ekid indigene as the Governor recognised Ibeno as the owner of the land on which Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited is sited. The Agreement which the Government made with Mobil recognised Mkpanak in Ibeno as the Landlord of Mobil. Every other event which followed after this Agreement was drawn up and signed, show that the Ibenos have as a minority community been fraudulently cheated and shortchanged with respect to the payment of the 18million naira rent by Mobil in respect of Ibeno land. Part of the Mobil Agreement described the land which was given to Mobil as follows: THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO:

“All that parcel of land at Ibeno in the Eket Division of the South-Eastern State of Nigeria, containing an area of approximately 810.04 acres shown on South-Eastern State of Nigeria Survey Plan No. SE/OP.C.1 (Tracing No. SEC.14) the boundaries of “which are described below.

Starting at a concrete pillar marked PB GK 32 the coordinates of which are 374.51 feet South and 5321.47 feet East of a concrete pillar marked BCS IT the origin of BIG TOWN (MKPANAK) Ibeno Cadastral Surveys, the boundaries run in straight lines the bearings and lengths of which are as follows....”

9.        We which to assure the Government of Akwa Ibom State that the land on which the Petrochemical Industry is sited is Ibeno land and at an appropriate time compensation issue shall be discussed.

10.      It is proper here and now to warn the likes of Dr. Obioba to desist from sponsoring such provocative and tendentious publications in order to avoid very serious conflagratory reactions.

We wish to use this medium to congratulate Akwa Ibom State Government for making it possible for Ibeno people to share in its uncommon transformation agenda and the boldness to site the Petrochemical Industry on Ibeno land. We also assure the Government of the cooperation and support of Ibeno as host community and partner in the project, while looking forward to a very profitable venture in the ensuring years.

Yours faithfully,