Some groups, women, youths and the traditional rulers from the two ethnic blocs of Annang and Oro have earlier criticised the law which grants perpetual leadership of the TRC to the Oku Ibom Ibibio disregarding the longstanding rotational provision among all the paramount rulers in the state. The amended law birthed the new Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom Traditional rulers, with the Ibibio Patriarch and Oku Ibom Ibibio, Nteyin Solomon Etuk as the President-General for life.
The letter partly read, 'I must frankly say that Section 45 of the Traditional Rulers Law 2023 that vests in perpetuity the office of President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in the Oku Ibom Ibibio is not only unconstitutional and discordant with the history of the ethnic nationalities that constitute Akwa Ibom State and their affable relationship with each other from time immemorial, it also betrays the mandate of your Assembly to make laws only for the...