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From Isaac Job, Uyo
The people of the Eket community in Akwa Ibom State have stated that they are not opposing the ongoing federal government Lagos-Calabar highway project, contrary to speculations that some communities are resisting the construction work.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno has promised to deal decisively with any group obstructing the successful passage of the ongoing coastal highway, which will pass through the Stubbs Creek Forest in the Eket community within Akwa Ibom State.
But former Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal Chief Nduese Essien, while reacting in an open letter titled “Appeal for Reason, Justice, and the Future of Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve” under the auspices of Ekid Peoples Union (EPU), exonerated the Eket people from the allegations of obstructing the federal government project passing through their community.
The former minister, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ekid Peoples Union, and Engr. Bassey Itama as Secretary, stated that the community was only concerned about the illegal land racketeering within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, adding that their ancestral land was being allocated without consultation, consent, or compensation to the people.
According to them, “Contrary to some narratives, Ekid people have not opposed the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway of the federal project.
The open letter reads in parts:
“We understand the importance of regional connectivity and economic integration.
“We also know that the Federal Government, in constructing the Highway in other parts of the country, has adhered to land acquisition processes, engaged host communities and paid compensation where required.
“The caveat issued by Ekid People’s Union was not a call to stop development. It was a warning to private investors engaging in illegal land racketeering within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve as our ancestral land was allocated without consultation, consent, or compensation”.
The community leaders said the remarks by the governor during the commissioning of a health centre in Esit Urua recently against the Ekid people and the leadership of the Ekid People’s Union were deeply hurtful and troubling.
“We have resisted the temptation to respond with anger or recrimination.
“Instead, we have reflected deeply and believe that the governor’s outburst may have been caused by the pressures of office, the burden of governance, and the heavy burden that leadership places on those who carry it.”
The EPU Board of Trustees said their intervention is not just a solemn duty owed to Ekid people but also to the peace, stability, and future of Akwa Ibom State.
“We must clear the misconceptions that have been generated, restate the genuine concerns of Ekid people with clarity and restraint, and create room for an amicable, lawful, and dignified resolution of the issues surrounding the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.”
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They explained that Ekid people are not opposed to development.
“This must be stated clearly and repeatedly, because it lies at the heart of the current misunderstanding.
“We desire development in all its forms. We want roads, hospitals, schools, industries, and opportunities for our young people, just like every other community in Akwa Ibom State.
“What we oppose is a model of development that treats host communities as inconveniences, that circumvents the law, and that ignores history and culture”.
The former minister, while speaking for the community, insisted that due process in land acquisition is not hostility but a legitimate demand grounded in law and citizenship.
The Ekid Peoples Union further explained that the legal status of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve is clear and well established as far back as 1918 via the Privy Council, adding that beyond legality and history lies the fact that Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve is one of the last remaining forest ecosystems in Akwa Ibom State.
“Its mangroves and forests serve as natural buffers against coastal erosion and flooding, regulate local climate, and sustain biodiversity that is increasingly rare.
“They support livelihoods tied to fishing, hunting, and traditional occupations, and they provide ecological services whose value far exceeds short-term gains from land conversion”.
They maintained that Ekid people remain open to dialogue provided they are not expected to sign off their inalienable rights.
“We remain committed to peace. We remain willing partners in the development of Akwa Ibom State. But we will also remain steadfast in defending our land, our environment, and our dignity.
“That stance is not terrorism. It is responsible citizenship rooted in the rule of law. It is justice bereft of self-help. It is maturity grounded in self-restraint. And it is our obligation to the future generations”.
“We therefore appealed for a cessation of hostile rhetoric, for genuine engagement with Ekid stakeholders and transparent environmental and social impact assessments, and for a reconsideration of any project that threatens to destroy Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.
“Alternative routes exist. Innovative solutions are possible. What is required is a political will grounded in wisdom”.
