Annang Nation, has expressed an objection to the recently passed Traditional Rulers Council amendment bill by the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly.
The protesters shunned the 36th Anniversary celebration of Akwa Ibom state on Saturday where the governor after assenting into law the Traditional Rulers Council amendment bill, Inaugurated and presented Staff of office to the president general.
The Annang Nation lodged an official protest against so many things in the bill including section 47(1) of the law that reads, “the president-general shall be Oku Ibom Ibibio representing the largest ethnic group in the state.”
Section 48(1)(2) of the law which also read, the Vice President 1 shall be the Akuku Annang representing the second largest ethnic group in the state.” And the Vice president 11 shall be the Ahta Oro representing the third largest ethnic group in the state.”
According to the protesters, the above cited provisions of the law are not only derisory, condemnable, discriminatory, provocative and insulting but also inconsistency with section 42(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which says.
“No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by circumstances of birth.”
The unwavering position of the Annang Nation on the bill before the protest was signed by monarchs from NorthWest Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom state Including HRM Akuku Cosmas Okon Akpan, Paramount Ruler Essien Udom LGA, HRM Akuku (Dr) Johnson J. Obosi, Paramount Ruler and Secretary General Oruk Anam LGA, HRM, Akuku Okon Udo Ukut, Paramount Ruler Ikot Ekpene LGA, HRM Akuku (Prof) Amanam Akpan Udo, Vice President Paramount Ruler Etim Ekpo LGA, and HRH Akuku (Dr) Uwah Umo Adiaka, Paramount Ruler Obot Akara LGA, among others.
The Nation also insisted that the office of the President-General, the Vice President 1 and the Vice President 11 be rotational and base on the three Senatorial Districts that make up Akwa Ibom state as usual.