ORO NATION: BREAKING NEW FRONTIERS

By Ezekiel Ibok

When Akwa Ibom State was carved out of the old Cross Rivers State on September 23, 1987, the jubilation that greeted the birth of the new State was unimaginable. As puts by Dr. Ekeng Anam-Ndu, one time Lecturer at the University of Uyo, and Governorship candidate, Labour Party, "the creation of Akwa Ibom had meant the beginning of contemporary history of a hitherto represses people; a rebirth, a liberated visibility". It was a dream come true for the Ibiobio, Annang, and Oro tribes - the major nationalities in the State.

However, during the long period of agitation for the creation of the State, Oro nation was the beautiful bride. Majority of the people from the then Cross River State, who share cultural affinity with the Oro people, had canvassed for the retention of Oro in Cross River State.

But the Ibibio and Annang insisted that Oro should be part of the new State, obviously, because of its economic and strategic importance, maritime advantages, and geographical dispositions.

At creation, a strong bond heralding a renewed relationship was established among the three major ethnic nationalities that represent the tripod on which Akwa Ibom State stands.

Obviously, since the creation of Akwa Ibom State, the Uyo Senatorial district, which is predominantly Ibibio, has produced two democratically elected governors, covering 10 years.

They were Obong Akpan Isemin in the aborted Third Republic (1991-1992) and Obong Victor Attah in the Fourth Republic (1999-2007).

The Ikot Ekpene axis, which is dominated by the Annang, has also produced one governor in the person of Obong Godswill Akpabio (2007 - 2015).

When it was the turn of Eket Senatorial district, dominated by Oron to produce a Governor for the State, the arrangements were notoriously altered.

The Oro nation’s quest to produce the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015 justified in every side, including in terms of socio-cultural imperative, economic contribution, equity, constitutional imperative, and strategic environmental imperative could not be realized.

This marked, in a brazen fashion the beginning and the greatest aspect through which the underdevelopment Oro has been orchestrated. Other areas of Oro underdevelopment include diminution of State Government projects in Oro; financial amputation, disinheritance as Oil producing community; and continuous perpetuation of political marginalization.

Oro currently faces challenges akin to colonialism. Our resources are plundered without compensation with the aid of State apparatus. Divide and rule tactics are applied to set Oro people against the other. Our youths and children are enticed with peanuts to renounce their heritage and support the desecrators of that heritage.

The proud Oro man must be humiliated to obtain access to a coterie of power broker, who only yesterday had been nothing; who today wallow in unearned wealth, prodigal squandermania and mindless erosion of all positive values in our society. Our boys beg and betray their kins to eat and survive. Oro people have been grossly marginalized and denied basic fundamental right in Akwa Ibom State.

Let it be noted that: The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, and is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation.

In the face of all these is, what should we do? A number of options are available, but permit me to point out only two:
First, Oro people must embark on what I termed "D2R" - Discover to recover, implying that Oro people must come together and embark on aggressive enlightenments to discover the real potentials in them with a view to contributing to Oro growth and development.

Second, where these marginalization persists, Oro people should forge a special relationship with major world powers in preparedness for self-determination. All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Yak Abazi odiong Oro
Comr. Ezekiel Ibok, Writing from Ukuko 2, Urue Offong Oruko Local Government Area.
07051228519.