Residents of Ifa community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom are decrying the
untold story meted on them by the state government which has left many heart broken and in
penury.
Our correspondent gathered that on Sunday morning that Mr. Charles Udoh, the Honorable
Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals in the State, accompanied by troops of police
officers in 15 Hilux vehicles and a bulldozer reportedly stormed Ifa community market along the
Airport road and demolished the only market in the community.
According to an eye witnessed who graved for anonymity , it was heartbroken watching the
scene of the event that played out on that day, when Mr. Victor Edet Asuquo, Secretary of the
community inquired from the Commissioner the reason they were not given notice of the
demolition of their market for them to pack their goods from their shops, the Commissioner
ignored the question and simply ordered that the police should deal with him.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the three months suspension injustice on the
village head of Ifa Ikot Akpan, EtteIdung Edem Aniedi Ebong by the Commissioner for Local
Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Achibong on false claims that the village head
who have for the past twelve years on the throne enjoyed goodwill from the people Ifa group of
villages.
According to Frank Archibong, "the Village Head was found culpable of gross misconduct of
poor leadership and negligence of duty occasioned by his failure to maintain peace and order in
his domain, resulting to violence and severe injury considered to be prejudicial to security of
the State and violation of Traditional Rulers Law of Akwa Ibom State.".
Meanwhile, there is no traditional law in Akwa Ibom State that calls for the suspension of a
village head by the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, this is simply
and abuse of power, the village head works under the Paramount Ruler of a local government
area, if the Commissioner have respect for constituted authorities, I believed he would have
drawn the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon attention before taking the
decision, he added.
Consequently, Frank Archibong’s action has spark public outcry in Akwa Ibom State, people are
not happy on the injustice in the land, It is on record that the Village Head, Etteidung Edem
Aniedi Ebong was not in Uyo on Sunday during the protest by the villagers against the market
demolition.
According to one Mr. Nsima Sunday Eyo, A renowned family head from the community,
"Etteidung Edem Aniedi Ebong is a peace-loving village head, he has not been found wanting in
the discharge of his duty as villages head that is why we made him the Chairman of all village
heads in Ifa group of villages, he was not even at home during the incident that happened on
Sunday 13th November 2022 – Frank Archbong should please listen to our cry on this injustice
and reverse the three months suspension action.
In the words of another family head in Ifa community, Mr. Samuel Umoren, "what the
Commissioners are doing is simply a case of adding salt on injury, our community cultural
ground (Iso Nung Adede ) which was inside the market was destroyed and the village head was
trying to calm the situation, recently we heard on the news that he was suspended, the God of our
land is highly provoked, we cry to him to respectfully reverse the suspension order.
Another respondent, Mr Christopher Effiong lamented that in 2015 Gov Udom Emmanuel went
round asking the good people of Akwa Ibom State to give him their vote to become their
governor that he will provide infrastructures and social amenities for them including the market (he is today demolishing) which instead of helping to build a standard market for the community
he went ahead to destroy and demolished their market illegally.