Stakeholders push for resolution of Akwa Ibom Stubb Creeks row

An advocacy group under the auspices of Open Forum in Akwa Ibom State has called on the state governor, Umo Eno, to fashion out an acceptable resolution method to end the lingering Stubb Creeks Forest crisis in the state.

The crisis over the control of the oil-rich reserves has dragged on for more than two years between the Eket and Esit Eket on one hand and their Ibeno neighbours on the other side land, leading to deaths and destruction of property estimated at millions of naira.

The decision of the state government to set up a high powered committee to resolve the crisis has been stoutly rejected by the Eket people who insisted on the implementation of the numerous court judgements and statues of the legislature

However, following the backlash generated by the proposed committee, the group in a statement released in Uyo by it convener, Matthew Okono, on Wednesday appealed to the governor to come up with an acceptable method to resolve the crisis.

The statement read in part, “Given previous records of bloody hostility arising from the struggle for the control of the same land, it is our passionate appeal to His Excellency, Gov Umo Eno, to fashion out an acceptable method of resolving the matter based on justice given how his personal integrity has been repeatedly challenged in the matter by individuals and organisations of Eket and Esit Eket extractions without any attempt to refute the serious allegations.”

Okono condemned the manner in which the traditional institution was dragged into the crisis following a reaction to one traditional worshipper, Princess God’s own

Udoito who had, in a disturbing footage summoned governor Eno and Akwa Ibom State Government before Eket deities.

The lady dressed in a tight black dress with a raffia palm leaves knotted around her ankle and waist, was seen standing before a tree and clutching a bottle of dry gin and performing a ritual

He said, “Open Forum is deeply concerned that the revered Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers in the State has been dragged into the case, not in the course of resolving the land matter, but in reaction to a traditional worshipper, Princess God’ownUdoito’s private session at her shrine.

‘’This  daughter of Esit Eket whose method of advocacy for the resolution of the land case went from her known Facebook podcast to using traditional items such as Ayei(Fresh palm frond) and Ufofob (local gin) to offer traditional prayers on the Stubb Creek matter at her shrine.

‘’In a video which trended on social media, three Paramount Rulers, as emissaries of the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council had gone to the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket to deliver a message from the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, directing the Esit Eket Monarch and a clan head to bring Princess Udoito to a meeting at the State Traditional Rulers Council Chambers, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo on September 25, 2025.

‘’The traditional summons which involved the presentation of “ayei” raised mixed feelings with unfavourable comments across the State and beyond. The proposed meeting could not however hold as scheduled.

‘‘In our pursuit of an amicable resolution of the incident, Open Forum had conversations with some royal fathers of interest over the matter, appealing for discreet resolution because of certain sensitive issues surrounding it.

‘’As an organisation, we are saddened that the attention given to Princess God’sownUdoito’s private worship in her shrine attracted swift action rather than the reason for her act. This was made worse by the individual that secretly recorded and circulated on social media the amateur video of the supposed rare and sacred event of royal fathers on a special traditional visit to their colleague.

‘’This is an embarrassment to the traditional institution and the people of the State. The perpetrator should be warned against such breach of protocol and secrecy in future.”

He added, ‘The revered traditional institution must be insulated from poor sense of judgement, petty influences and crude interests  of politically exposed persons who are ever ready to sacrifice anything in an attempt to manage their challenged reputations and retain their source(s) of livelihood. We understand some politicians had earlier attempted to get into the issue involving Princess Udoito without success.

‘’To ensure our royal fathers have access to bright minds to analyse and advise them on critical issues such as this before they take a decision for, or against we advocate the mandatory establishment of Palace Advisory Councils for all Paramount Rulers in the state. Clan Heads should have it too.

‘’Decisions on critical issues should not be left to the royal fathers alone to take with thorough review and expert recommendations. No royal fater should be taken unaware of issues, particularly issues of consequence.

‘We most respectfully appeal to our royal fathers to manage the outcome of the September 20, 2023 summons to avoid drawing the traditional institution to needless controversies beyond what is in public domain so far.

‘’We also appeal to those using the opportunity to taunt royal fathers to please cease further acts. As much as no one should be silenced while fighting for justice, a blanket demeaning of the traditional institution is a no, no. Where clear and outstanding issues of intentional oppressions and integrity are established, such can be treated as a stand- alone or isolated case.’

The group also expressed concern over the silence of the political leaders, heads of socio-cultural organisations, religious leaders and opinion  leaderover the issue, warning that everything should not be left the hands of the governor alone to handle

He said,’’Finally, Open Forum is worried by the deafening silence of political leaders, stakeholders, heads of socio-cultural organizations, opinion and religious leaders in the state over critical issues.

Everything should not be left to the Governor to attend to before they are resolved in the State. It is no longer a secret that some of those who should be solving crises are themselves perpetrators of crisis.

‘’Those who are always visible at ceremonies within and outside the State should not become invisible when responsibilities of leadership beckons. All hands must be on deck to make Akwa Ibom State a land where injustice and oppression are taboos.

‘’A stitch in time over this and other troubling issues in the State shall not only save nine, but our reputation and the safety of about 9 million citizens and residents of the State.’’.