*Akwa Ibom: A State that doesn't know her history*.

Do you know that the first (Experimental) Local Government (County) in Nigeria was Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area?

Sadly: It may be deleted from Nigerian history as we don't seem to be proud of it.

Do you know that the second highest Slave depot in West Africa (The first was in Badagri, Lagos) was established in Ikot Abasi in the year 1795? and the famous Bridge of No Return, was built in Ikot Abasi that same year?

Sadly: In Google, it is recorded as if the bridge stands in Imo State along Imo River.

Do you know that the decision and the plan for the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria into one country named Nigeria was taken at the Brick House in Ikot Abasi by Sir Lord Lugard and other Colonial Leaders in the presence of all regional Heads then?

Sadly: That Center (The Amalgamation House which is still standing in Ikot Abasi till today) was not recognized by the Federal Government when Nigerian amalgamation history was celebrated in 2014, why? we were silent, we seem not to be proud of it.

Did you know that Queen Elizabeth was in the 2nd Ship that came into the Eastern Nigeria through the Eniong River in the present day ITU Local Government Area?, and that till today the deck she climbed up to land is still at ITU ?

Sadly: It's not our business, such history is forgotten and such a place is not worth a tourist site.

Do you know that the first Leper colony in Nigeria was established by the Presbyterian Church at Obot ITU?

Do you know that the first telephone service station in West Africa was at ITU?

Do you know that because of our riches in Forrestry, few Italians in the 18th century collaborated with some Portuguese trade partners to establish an Italian forest reserve at ITU and it is still there till today?

Sadly; All these does not interest our generation and it is not even worth a tourist site.

Do you know that Mary Slessor spent most of her life in Use Ikot Oku in Ibiono Ibom, Akwa Ibom State more than she lived anywhere on earth?

Do you know that she died in Use and her house and her grave monument are there till today?

Do you even know that the names of the towns in Akwa Ibom that Mary Slessor affected are written in the Scottish currency?

Sadly: Calabar has taken that glory, Her Monument built by Cross River State Government is a tourist site where the Calabar Carnival train stops and dances.
Yet there is no major street in Akwa Ibom named after Mary Slessor.

Do you know that the name Itu given the Local Government Area in the then Cross River State and now Akwa Ibom State was derived from a Portuguese/English Trade Center called International Trade Union?

Sadly: it is only found in an old book in a dying Library in Calabar and no one from here is bold enough to put it on the Internet so it could be googled.

Do you know that the famous "Aba Women Riot" of 1929 actually originated from a Market called Ukam Market in Ikot Abasi and so many women lost their lives in the killing ordered by the Colonial Division Officer in Ikot Abasi,

Do you know that it was an Ikot Abasi woman that led that riot?

Do you know that no woman actually died on the streets of Aba and that female traders in Aba only did a sympathy walk?

Sadly; Aba, is more popular in the glory of that history because we just don't care.
Even the mock graves of the 500 dead women in Ikot Abasi is not worth a tourist site to be promoted.

BUT
Do you know that tourism is a major economic driver on earth today?

Do you know that Akwa Ibom Citizens travel out and tour so many other historical sites around the world?

Why? Why? Why?
Are we not proud of our history?

Why can't we turn our historical sites to tourist Sites?

Why? Do we allow tribalism and political influence to rub us of our Heritage?

*Do you know that the first Cardinal in Nigeria and indeed West African in Roman Catholic Hierarchy is Cardinal Dominic Ekanem from Obio Ibiono, Ibiono Ibom LG of Akwa Ibom State.

Sadly: when Federal Government was honouring torch bearers in the country in 2014 he was not mentioned.

Do you know that the first commissioned Nigerian Soldier was Wellington Bassey of Akwa Ibom State.

Sadly: not even a mention was made by FG in 2014.

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