A coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Akwa Ibom State have called on the State House of Assembly to ensure the passage of a bill seeking amendment of the traditional rulers law Cap 155 of the State 2022 without further delay.
They also called on the governor, Umo Eno to assent to the bill when passed to him as it was long overdue.
Speaking in a joint press conference in Uyo on Friday the coalition made up of the Center For Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), led by Otuekong Franklyn Isong; People’s Rights to Life Development Foundation led by Comrade Ifot N. Ifot and Vital Partners for Development led by Dr. Victor David explained that the bill when passed into law would upgrade the status of the Traditional institution of Akwa Ibom State.
They noted that the law would enable the Oku Ibom Ibibio- which is the highest traditional stool in Akwa Ibom to be at par with other traditional stools in other states such as the Sultan of Sokoto. Obong of Calabar, Olu of Warri, Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, and Obi of Onitsha among others.
They maintained that the law would give room for the royal fathers in the state not to be treated as second fellows before other names earlier mentioned when they attend their national council of chiefs meeting in Abuja.
They said, “CSOs are saying that this bill should be passed into law without further delay so that our royal fathers should be accorded the same respect as their counterparts in other states, we cannot continue like this.
“The bill has already upgraded the status of the principal law we have and when assented to, it will now be Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and no longer Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) this is in section 43 of the principal law as amended. If this had been done before now, it would have put the state in a different light, it is long overdue.”
The group also called on the political class and government at all levels to ensure full implementation of the law when passed, by according maximum respect to the royal fathers as done in other states regretting the minimal respect given to them in the past.
“If the amended law is passed, we will have Vice Presidents 1 and 2 who shall be appointed by the governor apart from Oku Ibom, Akwa Okuku Annang and Ata Oro from the three ethnic groups in the state and Oku Ibom will become the highest stool from the largest ethnic group. They further explained.