Akwa Ibom State Council of Elders sets up Committee to Intervene on Remapping Grievances
…Sues for Peace
By Ekemini Simon
The Akwa Ibom State Council of Elders has set up a 5-member committee to look into the grievances following the remapping controversies in the coastal region of the State in a bid to bring lasting peace.
The grievances which has led to killings and destruction of properties in the coastal region of Akwa Ibom State followed the assent to the remapping law of the State by Immediate Past Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
The committee set up which is headed by a Retired Chief Judge of the State, Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua also has Retired Chief Judge, Elder Godwin Abraham, Former Minister and Secretary to the State Government, Obong Rita Akpan, Former Commissioner, Chief Moses Essien and Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien.
Briefing newsmen after the Council’s meeting on Thursday in Uyo, the Chairman of Council and Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah said the Council is very concerned over the tension and some hostilities the remapping controversies has generated hence the reason the issue was considered at Council meeting.
The Chairman who appealed for peace in the affected region called on those who are aggrieved and have gone to court to allow the court to take its course.
He said while the matter is considered in court, the Committee will still take a critical look into the grievances, liaise with government, stakeholders and the people of the affected areas so as to engender some level of understanding between the affected people so that agreement can be reached in spite of what the court may decide.
Attah added “Let nobody attempt to take laws into his hands. This State is known as a haven of peace in the Niger Delta and it should be allowed to remain like that so that investors will be willing to come.”
The Council also elected and inaugurated its executives as Obong Victor Attah emerged Chairman, Chief Nduese Essien as Vice Chairman, Chief Moses Essien as Secretary, Elder Okon Emah as Assistant Secretary, and DCG Nathaniel Ubong as Publicity Secretary.
Others are DIG Udom Ekpoudom as Treasurer, DIG Emmanuel Inyang as Financial Secretary, Retired Chief Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua as Legal Adviser and Dr. Ime Ekpoattai as Organising Secretary/Director of Socials.
The Council also elected and inaugurated its Board of Trustees chaired by Retired Justice Godwin Abraham with Elder Etim Okpoyo as Member.
Other members are Brigadier General Anthony Etukudo, Obong Rita Akpan and Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien.
The Council is made up of all former Governors and their Deputies, all former Ministers, all former Senators, all former Ambassadors, all former Secretaries to Government, all former Vice Chancellors, all retired State Chief Judges and all retired Judges of the State, Federal, Appellate and Supreme Courts.
Others in the council are former Commissioners who left office in the last 15 years, all retired Military Officers not below the rank of Colonel in the Army and their equivalent in the Navy and Air Force and all retired Police Officers not below the rank of Commissioners and their equivalent in the DSS, Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence.