Eno Must Move Ibom Deep Seaport From Talks To Implementation

• MMI urges Governor Eno to move Ibom Deep Seaport from prolonged discussions to implementation.

• Group demands evidence for disputed historical and territorial claims between Ibibio and Oro interests.

• MMI says seaport, boundary and host-community questions should be resolved through law, technical studies and competent authorities.

• Group rejects allegations of Ibibio appropriation of Oro territory and calls for mutual restraint and respect.

August 14, () — The Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio (MMI) has called on Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to commence concrete steps towards the actualisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport, saying the project has remained in discussions for too long.

MMI made the call in a statement signed by its International Public Relations Officer, Akparawa Idongesit Ikono, on Friday, while responding to recent comments by the Oro–Obolo Youth Council Worldwide (OYCW) on the seaport and the agitation for additional states.

The group said Akwa Ibom people deserved tangible progress on the seaport project and urged the governor to engage relevant Federal Government agencies, investors and other stakeholders to establish a clear roadmap and timeline for its implementation.

MMI said issues relating to the location of the seaport, host communities, maritime jurisdiction and environmental concerns should be determined through existing laws, technical studies and competent authorities rather than ethnic pressure.

“Akwa Ibom needs the seaport, Nigeria needs the seaport, and the time for decisive action is now”, the group said.

On the controversy over historical and territorial claims between Ibibio and Oro interests, MMI rejected what it described as attempts to portray Ibibio concerns as an attack on Oro identity.

The group argued that ethnic identity could not by itself determine questions of history, territory, boundaries, political jurisdiction or constitutional entitlement.

It challenged the OYCW to support its historical and territorial claims with maps, colonial records, gazettes, administrative documents, archival materials and other authoritative boundary instruments.

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MMI maintained that the Constitution protects citizens against discrimination and provides the process for state creation, but does not by itself establish historical boundaries of ethnic nationalities or validate territorial claims.

“History cannot be established by press release”, the group added, insisting that disputed historical and geographical questions should be subjected to evidence and institutional verification.

MMI also rejected allegations that Ibibio people were taking Oro territory, asking that any such claim be established by identifying the territory allegedly taken, the applicable law and the instrument or historical event on which the allegation was based.

The organisation said the existence of Oro history and identity did not negate Ibibio history, ancestral connections and homeland.

On the Atlantic coastline, MMI said no ethnic organisation could appropriate or relocate a coastline through public statements, arguing that geographical disputes should be resolved through official records, surveys and technical studies.

The group further said a statement attributed to Dr Samuel Udonsak concerning the area from the mouth of the Qua Ibo River to Okposo 1 and 2 should be considered within its historical and geographical context, challenging those who disputed it to produce evidence to the contrary.

MMI also cautioned against personal attacks on Ibibio leaders, saying differences over history, territory, Politics and development should be addressed through facts, reasoned arguments and legitimate channels.

It called for mutual restraint between the groups, stressing that dialogue should allow all sides to question claims and defend their legitimate interests.

MMI said it had no interest in ethnic confrontation but would continue to defend what it described as the legitimate interests, dignity and historical heritage of the Ibibio people while respecting the identity and aspirations of the Oro people and other ethnic nationalities.

The group urged historians to examine disputed historical claims, cartographers and surveyors to establish geographical facts, official records to determine boundaries and competent institutions to resolve legal questions.

“Facts must prevail over propaganda. Evidence must prevail over emotion. Respect must prevail over insult. And truth, not ethnic pressure, must prevail”, MMI stressed.