Ibeno socio-cultural group in Akwa Ibom, Akwaha Esop Ndito Ibeno World-wide has come out swinging against Ekid People’s Union (EPU), describing their recent statement on Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve as a cocktail of lies, desperation, and mischief calculated to stir needless tension in the State.

In a fiery rebuttal read by Chief Umani Ibono Ekaluo on Saturday at Ukpenekang, the group declared without equivocation that, Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve is the ancestral land of Ibeno people, stretching along the Atlantic coastline and hosting critical national assets suc; as the Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT), BUA Refinery, and other multi-billion-dollar oil and gas infrastructures.

They stressed that no such place as Akoiyak Ekid exists on the official map of Akwa Ibom State, branding EPU’s invention of the name as “fraudulent geography and a shameless attempt at land grabbing.”

“Let it be stated clearly that there has never been any case of land racketeering in Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve. If there are concerns, the Ibeno stakeholders and the people are fully capable of addressing them. We do not need outsiders or busybodies from EPU meddling in Ibeno affairs,” the statement read.

The group accused EPU of constantly seeking to extend their restive tendencies to Ibeno, warning that such antics would be resisted vehemently and fiercely.

The statement further urged “EPU to focus on their home front where their recklessness has collapsed every viable investments from the Qua River Hotel to Qua Steel Company; from Dr. Pepper Bottling Company to Mobil Pegasus Football Club.

“Today, Eket lies prostrate with nothing working because of their recalcitrant behaviour, and now they want to export that failure to Ibeno. We will not allow it,” the group stated.

Lashing out at EPU’s leadership, the Ibeno socio-cultural group alleged that their antics were aimed at scaring away investors and sabotaging Governor Umo Eno’s industrialization agenda.

“Instead of supporting the Governor’s effort to rebuild Eket, revive the Qua River Hotel, the Chinese Market, and other abandoned projects, they are busy manufacturing fake history, issuing threats, and fanning the embers of disunity. EPU is deliberately creating an unhealthy environment for investments in Akwa Ibom. This is the height of irresponsibility and must be stopped”.

They warned that, Governor Umo Eno should totally disregard EPU’s antics and baseless claims, describing them as the work of “restive opportunists” seeking relevance.

“Ownership of Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve is not in contention with anybody or group. The only people manufacturing crisis out of nothing are EPU and their cohorts, who are notorious for chaos and land disputes.”

Raising the tempo, the Ibeno group reminded EPU of the resilience and courage of the Ibeno people stating that; “We have fought and won many battles and wars for our existence. Our silence in the face of provocations must not be mistaken for cowardice.

“If pushed to the wall, the centre will not hold. We will defend our sovereignty as a people with the last drop of our blood. EPU should be warned. They can not intimidate or threaten Ibeno people on Ibeno land.”

In conclusion, the group called on the State Government and security agencies to place EPU leaders under watch for their inflammatory statements capable of breaching the peace of the state.

“Ibeno being a peace-loving people, we will not surrender one inch of our land to usurpers.
Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve is Ibeno yesterday, today, and forever. EPU should mind their business and stop dancing naked in the market square of public shame.”