ARE AFE ANNANG AND AFE NKUKU ANNANG POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS?

Our attention has been drawn to a purported issuance of traditional injunction (ayei) to Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika and other Annang people, and the rumor that Afe Annang in conjunction with Afe Nkuku Annang is proposing the administration of Mbiam to all sons and daughters of Annang both at home and in diaspora as a way of intimidating, threatening and or restraining them from supporting any candidate of their choice for the governorship position of Akwa Ibom State in 2011.
It is in the light of the above that we the concerned citizens of Annang land (CCA) have resolved to call our traditional institutions and elders to order, and have resolved to state as follows:

1. That Afe Annang and Afe Nkuku Annang to the best of our knowledge had never been changed from a traditional institution which it is, to a subjective, anti human, blind-to-reason political party or organization which will use diabolical means to force compliance to the will and wishes of a despotic leader and aspirant. If it is then, we as concerned citizens of Annang will think and will be right to think that our Elders have gone insane and need urgent action to address the trend.

2. That both the Akpabio's and the Ekarika's are highly placed citizens of Annang land who deserved equal right and protection of interest which Afe Annang and Afe Nkuku Annang can give. If any among the two have breached any agreement, contact or interest against any, it is duty bound on traditional institutions to play intermediary role to settle the impasse amicably rather than issuing threatening statements because of financial inducement of a particular party. That statement as issued was despicably, inhuman, devoid of sound reasoning and consideration of other ethnic groups in the state and we pronounce it unacceptable and undemocratic


3. That what Afe Annang and Afe Nkuku Annang should have done should have been to call Godswill Akpabio to order and advice him to stop insulting Obong Victor Attah, his former boss and Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, his mentor, who are both in-laws to Annang people. Reason is simply that if we harm Obong Attah whose daughter is our daughter in-law, and whose instrument gave us the Annang governor, or Senator Udoedehe who is our son-in-law, the God of nature and the spirit of our forbears who forbid biting the finger that once fed you will be forced to work against us.

4. That in a democratic dispensation, one is free to support anybody he or she likes irrespective of ethnic background. More than before, we lack the numerical strength as demanded during democracy to have what we want.

5. That in 1983, the people of Annang land through the leadership of Donald Etiebiet had stopped the second term ambition of Dr. Clement Isong (an Ibibio man), but nobody from Ibibio rose against us and no ayei (traditional injunction) and mbiam were administered on any Ibibio son who supported that Annang course, hence, if Dr. Ekarika and others have resolved to salvage Democracy in Akwa Ibom State , it will be insane and tribalistic for Afe Nkuku Annang and Afe Annang or any other group to rise against the Ibibios now, and very wrong to attack any Annang son or daughter that is supporting Senator Udoedehe or any aspirants from there, after all, Dr. Isong who was attacked by Annang people was a better governor than Godswill Akpabio in all ramifications.

6. That what Afe Annang and Afe Nkuku Annang is doing now is not for the interest of Annang people but a ploy to protect the interest of Ikot Ekpene people as advocated and championed by the likes of Chief Sunny Ibanga, Okuku Effiong Eside, Okuku Cosmos Akpan and Gov. Godswill Akpabio. Our view is that if we start now to create ethnic disharmony, we may tell the whole state that we are poor managers of power.

7. That it is now suspected that the wickedness and maltreatment of other ethnic groups by Akpabio are masterminded by Afe Annang and Afe Nkuku Annang. If not so, what they (Afe Annang and Afe Nkuku Annang) should have done first should have been to call him (Akpabio) to order, knowing fully well that it took us time to persuade Ibibio to shift power to the Annang.

8. In 2003, when Dr. Ime Umanah contested against Obong Attah, an Ibibio Son, the Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio or Ifim Ibom Ibibio did not administer mbiam to any of their sons and daughters who supported the aspiration of Dr. Ime Umanah, therefore, any attempt to do so by any Annang socio-traditional groups will be seen as hypocritical and will be resisted.

9. Finally, we wish to call on our sons and daughters and the general public to disregard the move since the hypocrisy of Chief Sunny Ibanga and Co. has been detected and their selfishness discovered.

We are:
Dr. Pius Idem Dr. Nkereuwem Ediongsenyene
Etim Ekpo L. G. A Etim Ekpo L. G. A


Hon. Sylvester D. Udokang Chief Effiong Eno Akpan
Ikot Ekpene L. G. A Obot Akara L. G. A


Hon. Ikpe Okon Inam Prince Charles Udo Udom
Abak L. G. A Ukanafun L. G. A


Mr. Magnus Asuquo Udo Hon. Ime Isua Iko
Ika L. G.A Essien Udim