A spotlight on His Royal Majesty, Ovong Edet Okon Isemin on his presentation to Oro Nation as the Ahta-Oro VII

By Anietie Esu

Today, being Friday, September 15, 2017 marks the dawn of a new era in Oro Nation, the third ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State, as this nobleman, His Royal Majesty, Ovong (Hon) Edet Okon Isemin will be presented officially to Oro Nation and the public as the Grand Patriarch of Oro and Ahta Oro VII, the highest traditional stool in Oro.

Ovong Isemin succeeds Ahta Oro VI and Paramount Ruler of Okobo Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Owong Bassey Andem Ibok who joined his ancestors at the age of 93 years early this year.

Expectedly, the venue for this historic event is the prestigious Oron Civic Centre, Oron and will bubble with beautiful and colourful displays as traditional rulers, indigenes and residents in the eleven traditional clans scattered across the five local government areas of Oron, Mbo, Okobo, Urue Offong/Oruko and Udung Uko coming together to honour their royal father.

True to Gianni Versace’s musing that “In the past, people were born royal. Nowadays, royalty comes from what we do”. Though Ovong Isemin have both going for him (having royalty in his adrenalin and preparing himself for leadership), little would his parents imagined that the cry of a handsome bouncing baby boy, in Edet Okon Isemin (the third in the family of three) on 1st October, 1935 was heralding the birth of a King that will grow in knowledge and wisdom like the Biblical King not just to lead his family but also ascend the highest throne in Oro nation as the Ahta-Oro the VII.

Born some 82 years ago into the royal family of the late community leader, Chief Peter Okon Uneng of Udung -Abasi and late Madam Arit Udo of Udung Isemin both of the ancient city of Ibaka group of villages, in Uda community, the young Isemin rose from the humble beginning into becoming a strong force to be reckoned with in Oro nation, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole.

His sagacity has propelled him to assume all the possible traditional stools in Oro nation.

Knowing the value of education, his parents saw the need of securing a formal education for him and he had his primary education at Government Primary School, Abak, Abak Local Government Area. In pursuit of his academic advancement, the young Isemin also enrolled for his secondary education at the famous Holy Family College, Oku Abak, in Abak Local Government Area. He did not stop there as he went for further studies and obtained General Certificate of Education to prepare him for the huge task ahead – standing up to defend his people and securing nothing but the best for them.

As one deeply in tune with the admonition by the Holy Spirit that food should not be given to lazy people, His Majesty on completion of his studies joined the Civil Service in 1957 in the then Eastern Nigeria and served the nation meritoriously until he voluntarily resigned in 1971.

Immediately after his voluntary resignation from the civil service job, Ahta Isemin who is imbued with entrepreneurial spirit pitched his tent in the private sector as a Founder and Managing Director of Isemin and Sons Enterprises. He had also served as a one-time Sales Executive, Utuks Group of Companies from 1971 to 1973.
Also, as an active unionist, His Majesty had served as an executive member of the then Eastern Nigeria Stores Union between 1962 and 1963.

As Aristotle once described “Man as a political animal”, as one who sees politics as a platform of bettering the lot of the people, Ovong Isemin joined politics after quitting the Civil Service. Suffice to say that His Majesty was a dynamic and astute politician in the second republic. His active participation in community service facilitated his election as Councilor representing Effiat/Ibaka ward in the erstwhile Oron Local Government Area in 1976.Owing to his dynamic leadership, he was also appointed Supervisory Councilor for Works in Oron council between 1977 and 1979. Having distinguished himself as a man of service with unblemished records, Ovong E.O.Isemin was elected member of the old Cross River State House of Assembly between 1979 and 1983 on the platform of the now defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, where he represented Efiat/Mbo State Constituency. At the House, his leadership attributes and distinctions was not hidden as he was appointed Chairman of different committees, namely; Chairman, Public Accounts Committee and Chairman, House Committee on Industrial Planning, among others.

In addition, he was a member, Housing and Public Utilities Committee, selection committee and member, Appropriation and Finance Committee, respectively. He moved a motion for the reactivation of Calabar International Airport (now Margaret Ekpo International Airport. He was a great supporter of the late Dr. Clement Isong, the Governor of the old Cross River State. He has always asserted himself as an adviser of good governance and has not relent even at his age.

As an advocate of his people and defender of the masses, Ovong Isemin in his heydays was at the forefront of championing the cause of his people. This seasoned and no-nonsense administrator is also a founding father of the geographical expression and entity called Mbo Local Government Area. He fought for the creation of Mbo Local Government Area in 1989 as he alongside the late Inspector General of Police, Sir Etim Inyang (Ikpoto Oro) and the community leader, Chief E.O.Moses (on the rock) raised a memo for the creation of Mbo Local Government Area out of the Oron Local Government. It is also expedient to state that Ahta Isemin also played a pivotal role in the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

This great monarch is equally a believer in the importance of education. He has awarded scholarships to deserving students for secondary and tertiary education. He facilitated the establishment of Ibaka Development Organisation( IDO) and the establishment of Ibaka Community Secondary School. He was also instrumental in the creation of Ibaka ward.

Away from politics and royalty, Ahta Isemin is also a firm believer in the sovereignty of God over the whole universe. He is a big believer in the ideology that the main purpose of human existence on earth is to relate closely with God Almighty. He is a liberal Christian of the Catholic fold.

Talking about his own immediate family, since one of the justifiable yardsticks of assessing a mature and responsible man in Africa is the testimony of his marriage and family life. His Majesty leaves no one in doubt as per what a caring father and family man he is. He has consistently matched his advocacy that the family should be run as the most important unit of the society if the society must know peace with action via the way he runs his own family. His Majesty is happily married to Her Royal Majesty, Obonganwan Emma Edet Isemin (nee Emma Dan Etuk) from Usung Inyang Village, Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and the union is blessed with disciplined children. His handsomeness is sustained by African dishes served by his lovely wife, little wonder that even at eighty-two, he is still as fit as a fiddle.

Armed with the knowledge that it is not how long one lives, but how well he/she impacted his environment and men, this rare gem has recorded some achievements in his community. While serving as Councilor and House Member, His Majesty facilitated the establishment of the then Ibaka Health Post now Health centre and the Police post now Ibaka Police Station. This Heath centre takes care of the health need of Ibaka people and the riverine Efiat people.
His selfless contributions to his fatherland has earned him several awards and honours such as Diamond Excellence Award for peace, good leadership, hard work and community development by St. Mark's Catholic Church, Oron, Award of honour for his dedication and commitment to God and propagation of the ideals of Methodism and his contributions for the advancement of humanity by Methodist Church Nigeria, Ibaka Circuit, Diocese of Oron and Award of honour for his remarkable support to the growth of the youth by Akpakip Oro Students Union, among others.

This tall Patriarch with white hair, and a gentle smile, because of his wealth of experience in the Civil service, politics and in corporate society, was in 1993 unanimously selected by the family heads in Ute Udombo Ibaka to ascend the throne of his forebears as the Village Head of Ute Udombo, one of the villages in Ibaka group of villages. After his selection, the Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State recognised and certified him as the Village Head of Ute Udombo. On 2nd August 2004,the Akwa Ibom State Government recognised and certified him as the Clan Head of Ukwong in Mbo. The Patriarch who enjoys the special grace of God was on March 13, 2017 recognised and certified by the State Government as the Paramount Ruler of Mbo after his selection on January 31, 2017.The royal father once served as President, Assembly of Clan Heads in Akwa Ibom State. Until his selection as the Grand Patriarch for Oro on Friday, August 18, 2017, Ahta Isemin was the Chairman of Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR), the kingmakers of Oro Patriarchy and the highest traditional body in Oro.

Ahta is also sports enthusiast and was equally an outstanding footballer in his heyday which earned him the nickname ISOKWE. He had also served as an executive member of the Eastern Nigeria Football Council from 1958 to 1961and a member of the Eastern Nigeria Referee's Council from 1962 and 1964.Between 1956 and 1962, His Royal Majesty was Honorary Secretary, Uyo District Football Association and Chairman, South Eastern State Referee's Council from 1970 to 1975.Still in the sports sector, Ahta Isemin between 1991and 1994 was a member, Caretaker Committee of Akwa Ibom State Football Association. He has served as Match Commissioner, National Football League, member of Akwa Ibom State Sports Council from May 9, 1994 to December 31,1994 and from October 1995 to October, 1996 respectively.

Prior to his emergence as the President of Assembly of Clan Heads, His Majesty as a founding father of the Conference of Village Heads,(now Mboho Mme Eteidung) Akwa Ibom State, became the Secretary- General of the conference, while the late Clan Head of Oku in Uyo, His Highness, Etebom Effiong Eberefiak served as the President-General of the conference.

Therefore, as this great patriot, community leader, traditional ruler, intelligent man, practical christian, a family man and a friend to a host of people is being presented officially to Oro Nation as the Grand Patriarch of Oro, it is incumbent on the people of Oro to accord him the highest respect deserving of the traditional institution. This is what is expected of the Oro people so as to ensure sustainable peace and development in Oro Nation.

Let the people be reminded of the acceptance speech of Ahta Isemin shortly after his emergence as Ahta Oro VII on Friday, August 18, 2017 where he solicited the cooperation of the members of the apex traditional body in Oro, the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers ( COTR) and the entire Oro Nation for a successful reign.

It is on this note that we join well-meaning sons and daughters of Oro race to wish Ahta Oro V11 the most successful reign, good health and long life to serve Nigerian Nation, Akwa Ibom State and his fatherland faithfully. Oro Nation and indeed Akwa Ibom State are lucky to have Ahta Isemin as the opinion moulder at this point in time.

Oro behold your grand Patriarch! Akwa Ibom behold the Ahta of Oro, His Royal Majesty, Ovong Edet Okon Isemin.

Long live His Majesty!