OUR COMMON HERITAGE: MY PERSPECTIVE

The Publisher of Radar Newspaper Otuekong Franklyn Isong is an eminent opinion leader. Ample evidence abound to prove he is a bridge builder and professional journalist.

It is therefore pertinent to note that his
opinion has wide ranging implications on the polity. I took time to analyse his rejoinder to the Press Release by the
President General of the Oron Union on the vexed issue of our common ethnic heritage or otherwise.

Here is my submission on the topic:
Sir, it is true that other parts of our country treat their ethnic diversity as internal.

My take is that human beings are the same everywhere. Just as Akwa Ibom
State doesn't enjoy being marginalised by Nigeria, the different segments, components and tendencies which
constitute Akwa Ibom State can't enjoy similar treatments within the State.

So, for me, it's not Oro vs Ibibio and vice versa. Rather, it's an agitation for fairness, equity, justice and inclusion.

We are witnesses to how small families of same father and mother have been factionalised and torn apart in the
otherwise easy task of administration of a small family estate or sharing of patrimony.

In almost all of such cases, it always takes the sacrifice, patience, understanding and reassurance of the eldest son for family unity and peaceful co-existence to be achieved and maintained.

Such older sibling, in some cases will end
up being voluntarily addressed as "daddy" by his younger siblings.

In Akwa Ibom State, the problem isn't in all accepting a common ethnicity, as we confront the larger Nigerian State.

The main problem is that we haven't been able to make every part of the State feel a sense of belonging.

And I believe all it takes to achieve this is fairness.

For instance, certain parts of this State have been making certain complaints for years now.

I'm personally not aware of anytime leaders across the State have said
"Let's hold a family meeting completely devoid of politics where every fear will be addressed and a common front forged".

No family exists in peace and unity without such periodic meetings and dialogues.

Incidentally, other parts of our country realised this early enough.

Almost all of us grew up believing that the
northern part of Nigeria was homogeneous with everyone being of Hausa/Fulani descent and Islamic faith. Recently we got to know that General Yakubu Gowon is a northern Christian of Ngas ethnicity but he enjoyed the full support, solidarity and protection of the entire Hausa/ Fulani majority north.
We even thought that Ibrahim Babangida(Nupe), Sani Abacha(Kanuri) and Abdusalami Abubakar(Nupe) were
also of the majority Hausa/ Fulani, because that was what the North projected.

Back in the South South, is it not only very recently that we realized that there are sub-ethnic groups, including Jonathan's Otueke in Ijaw nation?
Would Jonathan have become the Governor of Akwa Ibom State if he came from here? Truth is that, our Ibibio brothers have failed in 2017 to learn what the Hausa/ Fulani and other major ethnic groups learnt as early as 1957, that is, giving a sense of belonging to minorities in their midst to have greater
strength with which to face outsiders.

Definitely, the sub ethnic nationalities who have voluntarily submitted their identities under the majorities among them have good reasons to do so.

And such developments were made possible by an accommodating
majority not a domineering one.

And no one should assume that Oro has been sufficiently suppressed to take
anything forced on them.

Any concession that will make Akwa Ibomites fare better in the nation should be negotiated and agreed to by all components.

The truth of the matter is, according to the principles of collective bargaining, we are stronger and better together.

Michael Uyeh,
Oro Nation Leadership and Business Roundtable.