Akwa Ibom Community Sends SOS to Gov. Eno over Building Demolition

Akwa Ibom Community Sends SOS to Gov. Eno over Building Demolition

The people of Ifa Ikot Okpon in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter appealing to the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to intervene in the ongoing demolition of their houses by the state government.

The letter, captioned “Ifa Ikot Okpon Community Is In Pain (Save Our Souls),” was signed by Elder Edet Udoh as President, Obong Etim Bassey Offiong as Vice President, and Elder Mfon Udoh as Secretary, and obtained by our correspondent on Friday.

The letter drew the attention of the Governor to the demolition of several residential homes, shops, and churches by the State Ministry of Lands and Town Planning on December 19, 2024, on claims that it was government land, forcing the owners of the buildings to become homeless, with other valuables also destroyed.

According to the community, the said land, known as Edem Eko Umana, which stretches to Nwomo (the community deity), is their ancestral land where they have lived for over a hundred years.

The letter read in parts: “That there is no time in the history of Ifa Ikot Okpon Community that the portion of that land was acquired by the state government or its agents, and that there is no document to attest to the fact that Edem Eko Umana was acquired by any government or its agents, and that any document produced now is a conspiracy by the Ministry of Lands.

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“That when last the village representatives met with you, the then Commissioner for Lands, now our Executive Governor, in 2022, you made a policy statement that since there were no documents to prove the legitimate acquisition of that portion of land, they now negotiate for block G and H, that the other side (Nwomo and Edem Eko Umana) is within the village on which more structures are built and dwelled there. That government has intention, not interest, and will not come for it anymore. Your Excellency, remember the words of the king are his bond.

“That the following tracts of land were taken from Ifa Ikot Okpon Community: Uyo Regional Market, the Timber Market, Osongama Estate, Emili Estate (G and H block), which are vast enough to accommodate EFCC, Judiciary quarters, Police station, and other intending projects within.

“That by forcefully ejecting Ifa from their ancestral home, thereby subjugating them to untold suffering and mourning, was not part of the social covenant and responsibility you made during your electioneering.

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“That in the Land Use Act, the procedure for the government to acquire lands from the citizens for overriding public interest is well spelt out, not a secret process or a process steeped in confusion or speculation.

“That on 19th December, 2024, the Ministry of Lands and its agents embarked on the demolition of people’s houses, where they lived for over a hundred years, without giving them notice and paying compensation, thereby rendering them homeless and forcing them into the abyss, is not part of the social contract your Excellency, our Governor, entered into with the electorate.”

They, however, called on Governor Umo Eno to see their cry as another opportunity to further cement his amiable reputation as a forthright governor, to right the wrongs, create goodwill among the governed, and in his unwavering drive of the ARISE mantra to build the Akwa Ibom State of their dreams.