Tension in Akwa Ibom as oil communities clash over disputed forest reserve
From Isaac Job, Uyo
There is palpable tension at the weekend as Eket and Ibeno communities in Akwa Ibom State poised for war over the ownership of Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve proposed for BUA Refinery project in the area.
It was gathered that the forest reserve is part of the land annexed by government and allocated to some firms including the BUA Petrochemical refinery and fertilizer company in the state.
But the land has been the epicentre of perennial disputes with Eket and Ibeno communities despite government intervention.
Speaking under the aegis of Ekid People’s Union (EPU) led by its President General, Dr Samuel Udonsak, argued that the Reserve, rich in oil, gas, aquatic ecosystems, solid minerals and agricultural resources, belongs to the Ekid nation, citing colonial and post-colonial judicial precedents.
Faulting the Ekid Union’s disposition, the Secretary of Ibeno Clan Council (ICC), Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, described the sentimental action of their Ekid neighbours as a mere trumped-up allegation coming from a biased and fraudulent mindset.
He accused the EPU of “peddling falsehoods, twisting history, and blackmailing the state government, to avoid a peace probe Committee to be chaired by the governor himself.
Udofia, while speaking to Daily Sun at Upenekang, headquarters of Ibeno local government area at the weekend, described Ekid People’s rejection of the governor’s peace overtures as “an act of cowardice,” stressing that Eket has no facts, maps, or legal judgments and documents to prove ownership of Stubbs Creek Forest.
“You cannot talk about Stubbs Creek without Ibeno. That expansive Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve is the very landmass of Ibeno. From colonial maps to present-day Akwa Ibom boundaries, it is clearly Ibeno territory. Eket people are only living on lies,” Udofia maintained.
He dismissed Ekid’s reliance on the 1916/1918 Court case as a “landmark judgment,” calling it a distortion of the fact of history.
“That case was between two Ibeno families; Chief Ntiedo of Upenekang and Chief Ikpak of Mkpanak. No Eket man was involved.
“The so-called Mr. Edohoeket was only a house-boy to Chief Ntiedo and was brought as a witness in the matter.
“How can Eket now claim ownership based on another man’s family quarrel?,”
He therefore accused the British judge who gave Ekid a favourable ruling at the Court of first instance of corruption and bias in the age-long dispute.
“Judge Webber was married to an Eket woman and lived among them. He connived to hand over Ibeno land. But Ibeno appealed, and Webber’s ruling was countered where the appeal Court declared that ‘the Court is not a Father Christmas to award what you was not prayed for.’
“Ibeno won at the appeal. Ekid instituted another case on the same Stubbs Creek ownership, and in 1980, judgment came in Ibeno’s favour with damages of N200,000 awarded against Ekid. These are with documents, and that’s the truth they want to bury,”
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