[b]IBIBIO THE LAND OF HONOUR.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is high time educated Ibibios picked up the mantle of leadership they dropped several years ago after they had shown the state the right way forward. It is necessary to take a quick peek at the future, then look back at the past and then at the present in order to plan for future.

This present world is guaranteed to be here for another minimum of 1,007 years! If the Rapture occurred today, the antichrist would reign for seven years. Jesus would then return to rule for 1,000 years before the advent of eternity. Knowing this, and coupled with the fact that the average life span in Nigeria is 50 plus, or minus a few years, how should we conduct Akwa Ibom state business today? Let us look back a bit.

Let me quote from the story of Ibibio Union, by Dr. Udo Udoma. On page six he write:
“The major problem confronting the Ibibio as a people was one concerning segmentation
… The tendency towards segmentation was perhaps a manifestation of historical fact that from time immemorial, the Ibibio people as a whole had never before been seriously exposed to or confronted by external forces which could have compelled them to unite even in self-defense”. This statement explains the preponderance of village name Ikot-this and Ikot that all over Akwa Ibom. Sadly and contrary to what Dr. Udo Udoma imagined, the people of Akwa Ibom have demonstrated an uncanny inability to come together for self preservation in the face of deadly adversity.

The people of Akwa Ibom have been exposed to Europeans and their colonialism. They have been exposed to other Africans who were forced into a non-negotiated union called Nigeria. They have been subjected to conditions their ancestors could never have imagined. Yet, they still have unable to see the forest for the trees and realize their common ancestry as well as their common destiny. “THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE SIDE WITH THE ENEMY AGAINST THEIR OWN KITH AND KIN”, as if it has ever been wise to cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face. They have been dubbed a minority in their ancestral lands and they have acquiesced to this characterization without a word. They have an example of a minority group that has succeeded to rule Nigeria without (until recently) drawing attention to themselves. Yet they refuse to learn. Or is it this generation that has refuse to learn?

The evidence is there that our immediate ancestors knew what to do in the face of new threat due to changing times. They did it. However, their enemies were astounded to discover that they had no staying power and a mere bluff was enough to make them cower and withdraw like when one pinches the eye of a snail. Let us look at about 100 years ago.

The first western school in Nigeria was established in Badagary in 1847. The second, Ladies and Gentlemen, was established in Okat in 1891 in Akwa Ibom. It is the present day Etinan Institute. I summit to you, pending the advent of verifiable information to the contrary, that we were the first or among the first to record our music on phonograph record in Nigeria. Contrary to recent mis-information you may have read in the press, published by people with ulterior motives, governance in Ibibio land was advanced and well established. I quote from ‘Christianity in Etinan’, by Mr. C. A. Ekere: “Etinan was a well-organized community. Government was in the hands of a king and head of families (Ekpuk), but executive power was vested in secret societies, the most powerful of which was Ekpo Nyoho and the revered Idiong”. That situation was common throughout Akwa Ibom. It is therefore not surprising that Akwa Ibomites were the first to organize themselves into cultural society name Ibibio Union, to more adeptly look after the affairs of Akwa Ibom people in the era of strong European influence.

Let us revisit very briefly the accomplishment of Ibibio Union. First and foremost, its founders recognized that the lack of unity among Akwa Ibomites was their greatest stumbling block. Hence, they set about to rectify that problem with considerable success.
When the “Leopard-man” menace hit Akwa Ibom, the Union was instrumental in solving the problem. In a world class display of foresight, the union organized a Scholarship fund that sent Akwa Ibom student for further education overseas. This stunned and awakened the nation. Unfortunately, while we were the first out of the starting block in education, in recent years Akwa Ibom state has been listed as a disadvantage state, vis-à-vis education. The union undertook to educate the public about the issues during elections and stressed that honest men/women of integrity be elected to office. They did not sell out to any political party but looked after the genuine interest of Akwa Ibom people.

What other examples of good leadership can we find in Ibibio Man? When Professor Eyo Ita was managing the affairs of Eastern Nigeria, he did not open a bank for transferring the Region’s funds into his personal bank as others did. When Dr. Clement Isong was the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, not only did Nigeria’s money remain in Nigeria, but sound economic theory and policies guided the affairs of the bank. Dr. Udo Udoma gave a good account of himself and Nigeria as the Chief Justice of Uganda. Ladies and gentlemen, we are capable people. While virtue is not reposed in only one ethnic group, our immediate ancestors exhibited an extraordinary sense of public service.

Fast forward to the present times. On the rare occasion when one of us has been put in a position of authority to serve the public, we have had those more intent on self-gratification than on the welfare of posterity. They have chosen to side with the oppressors for THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. They have lacked the courage to stand up for what is right, even when threatened with death. Instead, they have always capitulated on the spot so they can exist another day in fleeting grandeur. Is there any wonder that we have been taken for granted and regarded as an afterthought, if at all?

Consider that there is an ongoing fierce debate about the future and nature of Nigeria. What is the position of IBIBIOS on this issue? We are silence. Every other ethnic group has stated their conditions for continuing in this British experiment, called Nigeria. We have not stated ours. The sad fact is that once decisions have been made without any input from us (Ibibios) it will still be binding. Other so-called minority groups have taken on the colonialists, both foreign and domestic, and paid dearly for it. Have we shown ours support for their effort? Have we coordinated our efforts with theirs? Have we not yet learned that “divide and conquer” is and has been the successful modus operandi of our oppressors?

Our environment has been degraded and continues to be so. We cannot speak our mother tongue in the legislative chamber of the state. Yet we still remain quiet. The youth who are the today and future leaders looks to the Ibibio elders for direction, yet they provide none. Other people do not ask for things, they just do it, like Sharia. Yet we kid ourselves that we are acting for the good of the state. Ladies and gentlemen, this condition has reached the point where we must be proactive and do something affirmative to change it. “THERE IS NO NEED TO FEAR BEING KILLED OR KIDNAPPED IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE ALL MUST STILL DIE ONE DAY”. We might as well die for something worthwhile, like ensuring the welfare of posterity. Someone else usually digs the grave of a killer. Remember Abacha? ”Don’t you think Saro Wiwa was waiting for Abacha as he arrived the spirit world”? If you do not act decisively now, you may be able to exist (which is different from living) for a few more years. But I guarantee that you will have left no footprint in the sands of history.

This body must therefore take up every issue facing Ibibio, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria in general.

The question now is:

What is our position concerning the inevitable Sovereign National Conference?

Under what condition will we choose to remain a part of the state and Nigeria in general?

What is our position on resource control?

What will our economy be based on after we had gained control of our resources and the oil-wells have run dry?

How do we coordinate our activities with others in Niger Delta who are also under siege?

Who should be lobbying the government on our behalf?

Are we willing to fight and defend the Ibibios from all enemies, foreign and domestic?

Are we going to allow Sharia in Akwa Ibom as they have vowed to bring it to every state in the country?

They have vow to deal with the Ibibios are we aware of these?

Let think about the future of our children’s, The Ibibio elders must learn to live upto the expectation of the masses and stop being greedy on what that will not pay them and their generation yet un-born.
……Let the Ibibios rise up and support their own and stop listening to “empty promises made by enemies who are out to steal, kill and to destroy”. Let rise to our challenges since we have the mandates.

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you want to leave your footprint in the sand of time, you must tackle and resolve these and other current issues now for the betterment of posterity.
Never again should there be a convention of Ibibio nation without a discussion of the political situation of the people being the lead issue on the agenda, Remember “even if you are afraid to do anything so that they don’t kill you, one day you will still die. What will have been the value of your having been on earth then”?

When you build today, build to last 1,000 years! No one will remember the contract you got today. But if you build or lay the foundation of institution that last a thousand years, you will never be forgotten. “I HAVE A VIEW THAT IS THE IBIBIOS TIME TO PRODUCE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF AKWA ABASI IBOM STATE AND I CAN SAY NOTHING CAN STOP US”.
May God help us to accomplish something so that our living shall not be in vain!

(PRINCE) ITOHOIMO UDOSEN
08039453239, 08074780825

That was motivating and inspiring, especially given the current state of affairs in Akwa Ibom State.
Very insightfully accounted the contributions of the ibibios to advancement of Nigeria.

This is a lie.

If Ibibios weren't exposed to any external uniting force then how did they conduct their famous pre colonial wars against the Arochukwu igbos?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aro-Ibibio_Wars

saying that they have a tendancy for marginalization because of an assumed isolation is false, prior to colonialism the nigerian tribes still conducted trade with each other and often shared the same secret societies and rituals. the tendency towards marginalization is simply and eastern trait and was the chosen method of social organization, not a product of circumstance because Igbos do the same thing and they were by no means isolated from anyone.

I should stay very far away from this thread since I am an Aro Igbo that is mixed with Ibibio.

Anyway, this should show the Yorubas and other non-easterners that the people of the East do not want to be part of this union. Thank you OP!

And there is no difference between

Efik

Ibibio

Calabari

And I think Ogoni

It is all Ibibio. When an Efik speaks, I understand his language, when a Calabari speaks, I understand what he is saying. The Ibibio people need to unite.

Ogoni? Since when did Ogoni ppl become same ppl with Efik, Ibibio, Annang, etc?

Ibibio, Efik and Annang are similar. Ogoni is quite different.
@Ezeuche. Do you mean Kalabari or Calabar?.