"Oro Is Not Ibibio" Says John Ntekim

My response to Mr. Franklyn Isong.

SPARE THE PRESIDENT GENERAL OF ORON UNION, HE DID WHAT WE EXPECTED OF HIM!

Similar narratives were written in the past and we envisage more of its kind in the future even with more emotional expositions and convincing verdicts.

This is no new topic. In all, the truth reigns above every opinion and until the
question of ethnic subjugation which at many occasions has been promoted by personalities of the Ibibio stock, as
well as the question of political marginalization against the third largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom are
answered through evident love, we cannot discuss oneness.

Sir. Franklyn Isong, you sue for love and oneness and I completely agree with you that only through such level of consolidation as emphasised by you can southerners and indeed, Akwa Ibom people rise to meet the Yorubas and
Hausas on the social influence ladder.

Yet, we must first acknowledge that the eminent class struggles between ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria, as told by Prof. Ayandele of the lower Cross River region, cannot be blamed on the minorities like the Oro people.

Yes! These people are only exhibiting what is required of them by nature and what is common among minorities
anywhere in the globe.

Let's tell ourselves the truth and face facts squarely. The pre-colonial and colonial Southern Nigeria constituted an
acephalous society, with less regard for both the colonial authorities and the local leadership, because they promoted individual race supremacy, unlike their western and northern counterparts.

Then, ethnic groups in the South promoted more individualistic causes, even while pursuing self-determinat
ion together with others.

Therefore, we must not see the latest activities of the Oro people as anti-nationalistic, but display of inherent
behaviors of minorities.

What makes the difference here is the popular displacement of an Oro man in today's Akwa Ibom State and the domineering feeling that subconsciously occupies the mind of today's Ibibio man against others.

I think this is what pushed governor Udom Emmanuel to making such FALSE assertion at Asan Ibibio, ignoring the fact
that the Oro people had "risen to the faith of greatness" since 1925, upon the formation of the Oron Union.

So, we cannot condemn the decision of the President General to make proper reference to history, in an attempt to point out a deliberate sin committed by either the governor's speech writers or His Excellency himself.

After all, history is a valuable asset and it is the duty of any generation to guide against distortions of their history.

This is what Dr. Efiong Edunam Edunam rose to defend as the Prime Minister of the Oro people.

We therefore cannot condemn his opinion in that regard.

Coming home, I personally believe that if your message of unity must be heeded, then readiness to play along must first be displayed by your Ibibio brothers.

I am not one of the passionate campaigners who call for 'any' Oro man to be elected governor at 'anytime', but I
know that unity doesn't thrive where there is conspicuous injustice as there is in Akwa Ibom.

In conclusion, rather than trying to overshadow Dr. Edunam's carefully placed facts of history with talks of
togetherness, let us campaign for every constituent ethnic group in our dear state to be given a sense of belonging, politically and otherwise, then we will have no cause to campaign for oneness which of course definitely exists where there is justice and fairness.

YOU CAN'T BEAT A CHILD AND ASK HIM NOT TO CRY!