A socio-political group in Akwa Ibom State, “Arise Ambassadors” has urged dissenting voices against the Traditional Rulers Council law (as amended) recently passed, to shun ethnic sentiments and rally round the law.
The group said the new law is aimed at elevating the status of the traditional institution in the state, to bring it at par with those in other states.
Some Traditional rulers as well as a few groups had last week protested against the amended law, describing it as discriminatory.
They rejected the provision making the Oku Ibom Ibibio, which is the highest traditional stool, president for life and non rotational to other ethnic blocs in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Sunday, the National Chairman of the group, Rev Richard Peters said there was no need to snuggle ethnic undertones into the good-intentioned action of the legislature.
He said the law’s aim of enabling the traditional rulers in the state to play in the “big league” of traditional institutions in Nigeria should not be truncated.
He noted that the common denominator among the traditional institutions in Nigeria is that the king reigns for life, part of which the amended TRC law has taken care of and urged them to see the idea of having a President-General for the Supreme Traditional Rulers Council as a bold attempt to compete favourably with other ethnic groups in Nigeria in the traditional institution.”
He wondered why some persons are now rejecting the law after agreeing with all its provisions during a meeting with the immediate past governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel in May 2023, saying the law assented last week was just an amendment of an existing law.
Describing the protest as a distraction to the governor, the group urged the protesters to thread the path of love, unity and oneness charted by their founding fathers.
The statement in parts, “There appears to be a deliberate misrepresentation of the amended Traditional Rulers Council, TRC law by the 8th Assembly. The dangerous development, if not condemned, is susceptible to degenerating into distrust and stoking ethnic fire among the peaceful brothers and sisters in Akwa Ibom State.
A bill seeking to amend the Traditional Rulers law CAP 155 Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022 (as amended) was presented, deliberated and subsequently referred to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for scrutiny.
“Our findings also reveal that every aspect of the bill was considered and a public hearing was held, with all relevant stakeholders from across the 31 local government areas, including representatives of the paramount rulers, Oku Ibom Ibibio, Atha Oro, Itai Afe Annang, sociopolitical groups, trade unions, civil society groups among others in attendance.
“Contributions and inputs from all the stakeholders were solicited and obtained through memoranda to the committee, which added to the final position of the proposed amendment.
“The amendment was primarily targeted at making traditional rulers in Akwa Ibom State attain such credibility and integrity of other dignified traditional rulers in other parts of the country. In the end, after the different stakeholders made their position known, everyone accepted the eventual amendment.”
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