Group warns A’Ibom govt against redrawing, mapping littoral LGAs

Ini Billie, Uyo

A youth group, Obolo Youths Coalition (OYC) has cautioned the Akwa Ibom State government against plans to redraw and remap littoral local government areas.

Thr geoup also advised the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly against becoming involved in the illegality as it would be contrary to the ruling of the court and against the interest of some ethnic groups in the state.

President-general of OYC, world wide, Ambassador Ijonama Nkpon said in a press conference on Monday that the alleged remapping of the state would be against the interest of the Eastern Obolo people.

Nkpon said that the people of Obolo, Mbo, Oron and some other communities in Andoni did not request for any boundary alteration or remapping of the affected local government areas, as required by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He regretted that despite the agitation by Obolo youths, the state government was bent on redrawing and remapping the said local government areas that are indigenous to the Obolo people.

“Eastern Obolo, Ibeno, Oron and Mbo local government areas of the state never at any time proposed, requested, applied, demanded or gave their approval to any purported boundary adjustment or remapping of their respective local government areas.

“We want to appeal to the Akwa Ibom State Government and the House of Assembly to obey that ruling for enduring peace in the state,” he said.

The President noted that the State House of Assembly will be held responsible for the blatant contempt of a valid and subsisting court order given by his lordship, Hon Justice Edem E Akpan, on the 27th day of January, 2022 in suit no, hu/341/ 2021 between Joseph Daniel Ekoyork and Akwa Ibom State.

He called on security agencies and the entire country to hold the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly responsible for any breakdown of law and order in any attempt to disobey the court judgement given on the 27th January, 2022.

“We will take every legal step necessary to ensure that the planned remapping and redrawing of the boundaries does not scale through because of the negative implications it may likely bring to the people of Eastern Obolo.

“But if the state House of Assembly defies the court ruling and goes ahead to readjust the boundaries without the consent of those directly affected in such exercise, then Nigerians should hold the lawmakers responsible for the outcome of such actions,” he stated.