The Oro-Obolo People’s Union (OOPU) has launched a scathing attack on the President-General of the Ekid People’s Union, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, condemning what it described as his “historical misrepresentations” and “provocative utterances” capable of fuelling ethnic tension and undermining peaceful coexistence in Akwa Ibom State.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Saturday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chief Esu-Amba Antakikam Amba, the apex socio-cultural organisation representing the Oro and Obolo ethnic nationalities rejected comments allegedly made by Dr. Udonsak during his goodwill address at the inauguration of the 12th International Executive Council of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio in Uyo.
While congratulating the new leadership of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, OOPU accused Udonsak of distorting historical and constitutional facts regarding the agitation for the proposed Obolo State, the littoral status of the Oro Nation, and ongoing boundary issues.
The union maintained that the demand for the creation of Obolo State is a constitutional and peaceful aspiration pursued under Section 8 of the Constitution, insisting that it is not an attempt to excise territory from any ethnic group as allegedly portrayed by Udonsak.
OOPU also dismissed as false the claim that the Oro Nation has never been a littoral territory, arguing that the maritime status of Oro communities is reflected in official federal records, nautical charts and documents relating to the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
It further reiterated its position that the location of the seaport should be determined by technical, environmental and economic considerations rather than ethnic sentiments.
On the contentious boundary issues involving coastal communities, the union insisted that Okposo I and II are legally recognised communities within Mbo and Ibeno Local Government Areas and stressed that companies operating in the area do so within officially recognised administrative boundaries.
The organisation urged all parties to allow boundary disputes to be resolved through the courts, warning against inflammatory public statements capable of prejudicing matters already before the judiciary or threatening public peace.
OOPU however cautioned against threats to take unspecified “next steps” outside the judicial process, declaring that while the Oro and Obolo people remain committed to peace and the rule of law, their peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for weakness.
“Dr. Udonsak should be well advised that no one has the monopoly of effecting the so-called ‘next steps’ as we’ve got the capacity and the will to contain any threat, lawfully and otherwise,” the union stated.
Calling for restraint, OOPU appealed to the Akwa Ibom State Government, security agencies and opinion leaders to prevent public platforms from being used to spread hate speech or rhetoric capable of inciting communal conflict.
Reaffirming its commitment to justice, peace and harmonious coexistence, the union urged all ethnic nationalities in Akwa Ibom State to embrace dialogue, mutual respect and constitutional processes, insisting that the progress of one group should never come at the expense of another.
