Ikot Akpaden Traditional Rulers Council in Cold War Over N25m Royalty, MoU

From Imoh ESSIEN

The traditional institution in Ikot Akpaden community in Mkpat Enin local government area of Akwa Ibom state is engaged in a fratricide battle with some stakeholders who are allegedly involved in cutting corners to the detriment of people.

Checks by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed Ikot Akpaden community, which plays host to the state-owned university and serving as a key location for oil exploration activities by Natural Oil-field Services Limited (NOSL/NEPL), has been embroiled in leadership crisis and accusations and counter- accusations over the management of royalty that accrue to the community.

This has led to factionalisation of the leadership one led by Chief Ufot Dick Ama, the present Eteidung from Nkodoho Royal family, and the other led by Macaulay Uko, Young Ekanem, Ime Ita Ekanem, Etini Obong Essien and Samuel Tobby.

Recall that Chief Ufot Dick Ama, the present Eteidung from Nkodoho Royal family, was selected and installed as the village head in 2015. 

And as is the practice, the Eteidung constituted his cabinet including Chief Macaulay Uko as Council Chairman, Barrister Ime Ekanem, Secretary, Mr. Etini Obong Essien, Assistant Secretary, Mr. Samuel Tobby, Treasurer including heads of the thirteen families that make up Ikot Akpaden.

Since then, the administrative affairs of the community had been run by the village head and members of the village council untill the village head's inability to be actively involved in meetings, events and functions within and outside the community occasioned by ill-health.

However, trouble started when a group of persons including Macaulay Uko, Young Ekanem, Ime Ita Ekanem, Etini Obong Essien and Samuel Tobby alleged hijacked and sidelined  the village head and the other eleven family heads.

Since then, Macaulay Uko and his team have allegedly engaged in all sorts corrupt practices and nepotism including the embezzlement of N8m paid to the village by MTN Nigeria for erection of a mast without proper record or accountability till the time of filling this report

Findings also showed that job opportunities that were meant for youths of Ikot Akpaden as host community to Akwa Ibom State University and Natural Oil-field Services Limited, were mortgaged and sold out to youths from neighbouring villages. 

It was further learnt that, on the arrival of Natural Oil-field Services Limited at Ikot Akpaden, the Macualay Ukot group discreetly negotiate away the slots give to the community  by the oil company and allegedly the sum of N25m meant for Ikot Akpaden and Ekim Town, as compensation and community development fund. 

The matter got worst when the group totally neglected the ailing village head without giving him routine reports as deemed right as well as denying him the weekly allowance even as his health deteriorated. 

Sources to the management of staff of Natural Oil-field Services Limited, disclosed that the oil company had been paying about N300, 000 for the upkeep allowance of the village head through the community CLO while the CLO allegdely  remitted to the village head was N50, 000 

through a Point of Sales Machine (POS) within the village. 

The group has also failed to renovate Eteidung's house and some dilapidated structures belonging to Ikot Akpaden which they promised to execute  while in office for ten years, were totally neglected.

The last straw that broke the Camel's back and got the entire community agitated was the signing of Memorandum of  Understanding otherwise known as (DMOU) with Natural Oil-field Services Limited on behalf of Ikot Akpaden.

THE BEAGLE NEWS gathered following this development, the village head, Eteidung Ufot Ama, summoned all council members to his palace for meetings on several occasions, but the Macualay Ukot group abstained from those meetings. 

The Secretary, Barrister Ime Ekanem, who is also the CLO was quoted to have said that "Eteidung was a vegetable, half dead and cannot talk, so it was needless attending any meeting summoned by him."

Having watched this events, the family Heads decided to meet and chart a course faction of the thirteen (13) family heads in the community, two (2) are signatories to these Memorandum of Understanding who have also deliberately refused to carry other family heads along. 

The Family Heads forum summoned members for a meeting to discuss pertinent issues as it affects us as a people. This group meets every last Thursday of the month prior to the first Saturday of the month village council meeting.

 In abide to find lasting solution to the imbroglio, the Family Head Forum, in conjunction with the Finance Committee made up of one from the finance committee, two from the youth wing, two representing the Village Head and three others had a meeting with the Managing Director of the oil firm at Iko Base. 

At the meeting, the Forum demanded for all Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the company signed with  community. But the Senior Base Manager could not provide the document on a flimsy excuse that his laptop could not be assessed.

I'm continuation of search for pace, On 3rd April 2024, the Village Head, though ailing, summoned a meeting of the Family Heads and the executives of the Village Council to his palace on April 3, 2024 and yet the erstwhile executive members refused to attend. 

Following there refusal to attend, a vote of no confidence was passed on the executive members of the council and they were dissolved by the village head. He further directed that the new executives be constituted immediately to carry on with the activities of the village.