Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state
The Ekid Peoples Union has asked the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno to lift the restriction the state government placed on Esit Urua Plantation to enable the natives to return to their land and make use of it for economic prosperity.
The EPU’s demand is contained in a nine-point resolution adopted at the end of its 2024 annual congress held at Uquo, the headquarters of Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state and attended by key decision makers drawn from the Ekid nation of Akwa Ibom State.
A communique jointly signed by the President General of EPU, Dr. Samuel Udonsak and Secretary General, Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia, said the continued denial of Ekid people of access to the Esit Urua plantation was a violation of their rights to livelihood and an injustice taken too far by the state government.
The communique noted with concerns the negative effect the closure of the vast plantation has had on the people of Esit Eket and wondered what offence the people had committed to warrant such inhuman treatment by the state.
The people served notice that if the state government refuses to reopen the plantation by the end of February this year, they would have no option than to embark on mass protest to draw the attention of the world to their plight.
Part of the communique made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday reads: “Congress called on the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to lift the restriction order on Esit Urua Plantation to enable the owners access to their primary means of livelihood and reduce the negative impact of the inhumane victimization and economic castration of the Ekid people by baring their use of the Esit Urua Plantation unjustly.
“Congress approved the staging of a mass and peaceful protest at Esit Urua beginning in March 2025, if the order on Esit Urua Plantation is not vacated before the end of February 2025. The mass protest is to also commemorate our revered February 1918 Privy Council Judgment.
“Congress observed that other than the unfair, unjust and greed induced victimisation of the Ekids, on our God given Akoiyak the Government is generally going in the right direction.
“Congress called on the State Government to provide access roads and improve the security situation in the Stubbs Creek Forest to protect and ensure the safety of the people living and doing their legitimate businesses there in line with the Reserve Ordinance.
“Congress affirmed that by history, antecedents and the Privy Council Judgment of 1918, the Stubbs Creek Forest belongs to the Ekids, and would not now or in the future permit any Ibeno, Mbo, or any such village on its soil, by any guise.
“Congress urged Settlor (ExxonMobil and/or its agents or successors) and NUPRC to ease the bureaucracy and bottlenecks in accessing funds to funding projects that have been duly approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
“Congress mandated its legal team, to communicate formally with Seplat, successor of ExxonMobil on EPU’s position and expectations as landowners; as a matter of urgency and to take any further actions necessary if our demand and appeal for the 3.5% ‘‘designated facility’’ of the OPEX to be paid to Ekid as owners of the Land is further rubbished,” the union declared. (Vanguard)
