Ikot Ekpene TRC:
The real reasons why Otoro-Ubo Clan has not been recognized

It's oftentimes worrisome that in spite of the profile and political history of Ikot Ekpene, even before Lagos became a colony in 1861, sustainable economic growth, political stability and sound traditional infrastructure have been denied the place ever since. While the successive administrations of the state, in the democratic setting, have only been scratching the attempts to provide just a romantic landscape for the place, to conform with the people's economic lifestyle and infrastructure, both the micro and macro economic resources keep on decaying at a proportion unfathomable by modern estimation.
For easy traditional administrative purpose, Ikot Ekpene, with the total number o 47 villages are divided into two clans-Amanyam and Urban. Each clan is headed by a clan head who doubles as the village head from that paticular clan. Clanheadship is held and produced through election held among the village heads of that clan where legible candidates are voted for. The overall winner becomes the clan head, without any political influences or sentiments. Clanheadship is not hereditary but on merit and credibility.
The Paramount Ruler is the royal father and custodian of ancestry of the local government. He is also vested with economic development, planning and security for the people of Ikot Ekpene.
So far, Ikot Ekpene has had six Paramount Rulers. The present Paramount Ruler is Okuku (Obong) Okon Udo Ukut. The first Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpen was Chief Ikpeme Akpan, from Ibiaku Ntok Okpo in the present Ikono local government. Ikono was in the former Annang Province. After his death was Okuku Akpan Enang, and Obong Cosmas Okon Akpan became the third Paramount Ruler while Ntekpere, Asiak and Ukut became the fourth, fifth and sixth Paramount Rulers respectively.
In the political administration, Ikot Ekpene has maintained the office harmoniously
rotating among the the different political components of the local government area. In the pre-military Traditional Rulers Council of Ikot Ekpene, there existed a remarkable distinction between political authority and traditional voice where the TRC had an edge in controlling and managing trsditional matters. The situation remained fairly harmonious until the military era set in when the entire traditional architecture was toppled by the military dictatorship giving it the monopoly of the entire system. And, with the remnants of the military constitution, which dictates our leadership structure, the royal authority has become ridiculously relegated.
Under the present democratic dispensation overwhelmingly considered experimental, the situation becomes worse by the day. The politicians have become the decision-making engines for the survival of the traditional institution.
Before former Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio became Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, a proposal was already made for the creation of Otoro-Ubo Clan, from Ikot Ekpene local government area. The new clan was created and certificated. Chief Umo Inyang Esang became the pioneer clan head of the new clan with full authorities to control and manage the royal matters of the clan. But years later, and after his death, the strength of the certification diminished and gradually fizzled out probably due to some local politics.
During Akpabio's tenure as Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the local authorities of the place rekindled the issue with the view to giving it a renewed certification and recognition, and with a new clan head.
Three candidates finally emerged after careful selection by well-appointed delegates from the clan. Barrister Alban, villagehead of Nsiak; Big Daves, villagehead of Utu Ikpe and Dr. Ime S. Ekpo, villagehead of Utu Edem Usung were billed for the election for Otoro-Ubo clanheadship. At the hotly contested election adjudged to be credible and fair, Chief Alban polled two votes, Big Daves polled one vote while Dr. Ime S. Ekpo polled a total of six votes.
With these results, Dr. Ime S. Ekpo had won the election and was legible for decoration as ClanHead of Otoro-Ubo.
The new clan being certificated would bring the total number of clans in Ikot Ekpene to three making it possible for paramount rulership of the place to be rotated on a tripod-Amanyam, Urban and Otoro-Ubo.
When Akpabio became Governor of the state, many clans were created and the ones already created were given certificates and recognition. But the then Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene, late Augustus Jonah Asiak was captured as as confronting Governor Akpabio and physically warning him not to issue any certificate of recognition for Otoro-Ubo clan claiming that if Dr. Ekpo was certificated as the new clanhead of the place, Otoro-Ubo would produce the next Paramount Ruler of the local government. According to reports, Okuku Asiak went further to allege that with Dr. Ime's financial strength and international connections, he (Dr. Ekpo) might even eliminate him before his time thereby quickening his ascendancy to the throne.
Some political forces have also played out in the non-recognition and certification of Otoro-Ubo clan. The Executive Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council may have been at loggerheads with Dr. Ekpo due to the latter's refusal to relinquish most of his choice properties in Ikot Ekpene for government projects. He claims that almost two-thirds of the landed properties in Ikot Ekpene metropolis are owned by Dr. Ekpo and, with his sweeping wealth profile it would be difficult to tame him if he is eventually made clanhead, talkless of being a Paramount Ruler. He has no option than to join sides to frustrate Dr. Ime's dream for the royal seat. Just recently, it is rumoured in some quarters that the deepening controversy on the true ownership of the location of Total Filling Station in Ikot Ekpene may have been formented by Engineer Etido Inyang who has joined sides that Dr. Ime's growing financial profile and influence may not go well with him if he is eventually given a higher traditional title in Ikot Ekpene.