'Illegal Demolition of Houses by Uniuyo Authority is a Criminal Act' – Otuekong Ekefre
Calls for calm among University landlords
Indigenes of Offot Ukwa communities in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have risen in unison against the illegal demolition of houses in Ekpri Nsukara by the University of Uyo Authority, describing such as a criminal act.
Led by the Honorary Special Adviser to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Grassroot Mobilization, Otuekong Enefiok Ekefre, the people made their position known officially during their visit to report the case to the Paramount Ruler of the Area, Edidem Sylvanus Okon at his palace.
It could be recalled that some houses and other properties worth millions of naira were illegally demolished on the 24th May, 2020 on alleged order by the University authority in Ekpri Nsukara community.
Speaking at the Paramount Ruler's palace, Otuekong Ekefre narrated that the host community has a problem with the University and went to court.
Hear him; “the law clearly explain that whenever a particular case is in the court, both parties involved must maintain a ‘status-quo-ante'. When the case was taken to the court, the host community complained that the University has taken their land more than what was earlier donated to them, and the University took that as a none issue. They went ahead to destroyed peoples houses and properties in Ekpri Nsukara Community and nobody has said anything because they think Offot has nobody.”
“Nobody should tempered with what belongs to Offot Communities.”
“If a Vice Chancellor sent people to destroy peoples houses at night, that’s a criminal act. They shoot guns sporadically; if at all the community attempted to retaliate to that devilish act that night, many people would have been killed. No one man has monopoly of violent”. He stressed.
He added; “Professor Essien is an indigene of Akwa Ibom like every other persons. He has a village and he also has a local government. And I don’t think someone can go to Ibiono and threat Ibiono people the way he does to Offot people, especially the host community. He did that because he thinks we are nothing. The battle to correct the injustice of the past has started. Prof. Essien must know that Offot people exist.
From my investigations, I learnt that the Deputy Governor (Mr. Moses Ekpo) advised that he (Professor Essien) should go and liaise with the Host Community. And they had a meeting too with the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, where they were advised to maintain peace. Yet, the man ignored those advises.
He is a lawyer and a member of the inner bar and a SAN. He knows the implication of his action. As a lawyer, under his watch the people’s houses and properties wouldn’t have been demolished or destroyed late in the night. That singular action borders on criminality if at all the allegation is true. If the allegation is true, those who destroyed the houses came from an institution that he is the head. He knows the implication as a member of the inner bar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). That means if he is a lawyer of that standing and such crime is allegedly committed under his watch, his motive of being a lawyer of that standard is defeated. And that means the entire system is run by anarchist.
Otuekong Ekefre equally call on the people to rise up and seek for what rightfully belongs to them, noting that the next Vice Chancellor of the University must be an Offot person, especially the host community. “If they want to impose the leadership of that institution to the detriment of Offot people, it would be resisted. The peoples right to protest is an ingredient of democracy. The only language that the oppressor understands is ‘resistance’.”
“Also, we as Offot and Uyo people as a whole need a quota in the employment, admission and contracts awarded in the university”, - he submitted.
However, Elder Ekefre while addressing the University Landlords pleaded that they should remain calm and as well ensure that law and order are maintained. “I don’t want anything to obstruct the peace of Akwa Ibom State.”
He advised that in appropriate time, the state Ministry of Lands in conjunction with the Host community and the University will sit down and iron out issues. He equally appealed that the Surveyor General of the Ministry of Lands, the University of Uyo and the Host Community should sit down and come up with the true position of what was the actual land that was given to the institution. “The University can not allocate the land to themselves without the consent of the community.”
While responding, the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon called on indigenes of the host communities to be calm and as well embrace peaceful approach as to achieve the much needed peace and unity between the university and the host communities.
He promised to wade in and to find possible solution for lasting peace to reign.
The meeting was attended by distinguished sons and daughters of Offot Ukwa and core community, as well as village heads and council members of the host communities.
Indigenes of Offot Ukwa communities in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have risen in unison against the illegal demolition of houses in Ekpri Nsukara by the University of Uyo Authority, describing such as a criminal act.
Led by the Honorary Special Adviser to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Grassroot Mobilization, Otuekong Enefiok Ekefre, the people made their position known officially during their visit to report the case to the Paramount Ruler of the Area, Edidem Sylvanus Okon at his palace.
It could be recalled that some houses and other properties worth millions of naira were illegally demolished on the 24th May, 2020 on alleged order by the University authority in Ekpri Nsukara community.
Speaking at the Paramount Ruler's palace, Otuekong Ekefre narrated that the host community has a problem with the University and went to court.
Hear him; “the law clearly explain that whenever a particular case is in the court, both parties involved must maintain a ‘status-quo-ante'. When the case was taken to the court, the host community complained that the University has taken their land more than what was earlier donated to them, and the University took that as a none issue. They went ahead to destroyed peoples houses and properties in Ekpri Nsukara Community and nobody has said anything because they think Offot has nobody.”
“Nobody should tempered with what belongs to Offot Communities.”
“If a Vice Chancellor sent people to destroy peoples houses at night, that’s a criminal act. They shoot guns sporadically; if at all the community attempted to retaliate to that devilish act that night, many people would have been killed. No one man has monopoly of violent”. He stressed.
He added; “Professor Essien is an indigene of Akwa Ibom like every other persons. He has a village and he also has a local government. And I don’t think someone can go to Ibiono and threat Ibiono people the way he does to Offot people, especially the host community. He did that because he thinks we are nothing. The battle to correct the injustice of the past has started. Prof. Essien must know that Offot people exist.
From my investigations, I learnt that the Deputy Governor (Mr. Moses Ekpo) advised that he (Professor Essien) should go and liaise with the Host Community. And they had a meeting too with the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, where they were advised to maintain peace. Yet, the man ignored those advises.
He is a lawyer and a member of the inner bar and a SAN. He knows the implication of his action. As a lawyer, under his watch the people’s houses and properties wouldn’t have been demolished or destroyed late in the night. That singular action borders on criminality if at all the allegation is true. If the allegation is true, those who destroyed the houses came from an institution that he is the head. He knows the implication as a member of the inner bar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). That means if he is a lawyer of that standing and such crime is allegedly committed under his watch, his motive of being a lawyer of that standard is defeated. And that means the entire system is run by anarchist.
Otuekong Ekefre equally call on the people to rise up and seek for what rightfully belongs to them, noting that the next Vice Chancellor of the University must be an Offot person, especially the host community. “If they want to impose the leadership of that institution to the detriment of Offot people, it would be resisted. The peoples right to protest is an ingredient of democracy. The only language that the oppressor understands is ‘resistance’.”
“Also, we as Offot and Uyo people as a whole need a quota in the employment, admission and contracts awarded in the university”, - he submitted.
However, Elder Ekefre while addressing the University Landlords pleaded that they should remain calm and as well ensure that law and order are maintained. “I don’t want anything to obstruct the peace of Akwa Ibom State.”
He advised that in appropriate time, the state Ministry of Lands in conjunction with the Host community and the University will sit down and iron out issues. He equally appealed that the Surveyor General of the Ministry of Lands, the University of Uyo and the Host Community should sit down and come up with the true position of what was the actual land that was given to the institution. “The University can not allocate the land to themselves without the consent of the community.”
While responding, the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon called on indigenes of the host communities to be calm and as well embrace peaceful approach as to achieve the much needed peace and unity between the university and the host communities.
He promised to wade in and to find possible solution for lasting peace to reign.
The meeting was attended by distinguished sons and daughters of Offot Ukwa and core community, as well as village heads and council members of the host communities.
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