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mebewo@msn.com USA

ANNOUNCE THIS ARTICLE TO YOUR FRIENDS

A REQUEST FOR JUSTICE FOR A CULTURAL MINORITY:
THE CREATION OF A STATE FOR THE ANNANGS

ear members of the National Political Reform Conference and fellow Nigerians, we Nigerians of Annang origin, living in the United States send you our greetings. Encouraged by the wind of change sweeping our country, we have decided to send you this letter to alert you to critical and important issues facing us as a people. This letter may not meet the requirements expected of a political petition but it is demanded by justice and, therefore, comes from our hearts. We, therefore, beg your indulgence so that we can tell you about our people.

We are called Annang. Our people have lived in the south of Nigeria for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. They lived and worked the land for generations. We have lived as neighbors with the Igbos, the Andonis and the Ibibios. Our history shows that we have lived amicably with each of our neighbours at various times, but we have also fought wars to survive and to protect our language and culture. The slaughter of the Annangs by King Jaja is well documented, yet we struggled and stood together along with others when the British imposed colonialism on us. In 1904, the British chose Ikot Ekpene in Annang as an administrative unit and drew in Afikpo, Umuahia and Uyo into that unit. In 1928, sensing the need to bring in development, we joined our kins, the Ibibios and formed The Ibibio State Union. Through this union, we managed to educate our people who in turn contributed enormously to the development of Nigeria. The late Sir Udo Udoma and the late Mr Ibanga Akpabio who studied law were beneficiaries of the scholarships of the union, while the late Bassey Attah studied Agriculture. Our people have always stood for improvement and progress, therefore, we can no longer keep silent in the face of the present injustice.

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Our neighbours, the Igbos, have been awarded several states, but until 1987, we were lumped together with Ogoja to the north. If equality and fairness are what should be expected from the government, then a state should be created out of the current Akwa Ibom State for a people who are the fourth largest ethnic group in the country. The Yorubas, the Hausas and the Igbos all have more than one state, but we in the former Eket, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene provinces have only a single state (Akwa Ibom) while other provinces are now individual states, yet we produce the oil that lubricates the Nigerian economic engine. We would not have advocated for a state if statehood was just a purely administrative convenience, but statehood is more than just that, as we all know. It is a federating part through which Nigeria's wealth and governance are channeled. Statehood is a recognition of the unique history and affirmation of the identity of a people. Thus, the denial of a state to the people of Annang and Ibibio is an injustice and a neglect of those who produce the wealth of the nation.

We have watched and listened with dismay as many groups with states that cannot be counted without the use of the two hands call for yet more states for their areas when the people of Ibibio and Annang are only given a single state. We fought a war in Nigeria because groups felt oppressed. Our children should not be left to beg when others are reaping from our land.

No other area deserves to be recognized and affirmed as we the Annangs. We have seen our share of injustice and death as a result of our citizenship. The right of citizenship demands that we should be treated as others in the Nigerian polity, but we have been treated as second-class citizens. No other group suffered the effect of the Nigerian civil war than the Annangs. More than a third of the population was slaughtered during that war. We lost our finest men and women and today are left without someone to speak for us. Today, we continue to struggle under the yoke of injustice in the land of our birth. The president of the country, as an infantry commander, fought in Ikot Ekpene and can perhaps recall the horrors of that war and what our people suffered. We suffered because of hate, and we died because we were a minority. Today, we have seen signs of that hate raising its ugly head again. All old provincial boundaries are now states, but we the Annangs have again, been neglected.

We are, with due humility, appealing to the National Political Reform Conference to consider our request for the creation of ONE NEW STATE for the Annangs from the present Akwa Ibom State. One important observation to make is the idea that the polity and the political platform or level of playing field should be balanced within the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The number of states in each of the zones should be increased to 8. That will make the total number states within Nigeria to be 48 plus Lagos and Abuja as designated areas.

In the new round of state creation, the NEW STATE should be accorded special recognition because of being a former Nigerian province. Most former provinces are now independent states. Annang Province should be accorded the same status as other former provinces which are now states in Nigeria. The new state can be structured to align with Other neighbours as was constituted during the Provincial era.

The new state deserves a chance since this request has no bitterness, hatred or malice towards any individual or group. Our request is based on pure mutual co-existence, a belief in harmony and even development throughout the Nigerian state. The creation of a NEW STATE will bring even development to the grassroots in the remotest part of the State. Our recent observation around the Akwa Ibom State as is currently constituted, indicates an unfair concentration of both human and material resources in one section of the state-mainly Ibibio land, leaving other parts of the state yearning in anguish for resources to develop their localities. A NEW STATE would be very viable with its vast mass of arable land for agricultural investments and other natural resources, including oil and gas whose depots were abandoned during the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War. A new state within the existing structure in Akwa Ibom State would make room for the provision of real democratic dividends to the local people more than is currently done because of the current structure being too far away from the grassroots. The Federal statutory allocation would go straight to local people where amenities are highly needed to make them feel the impact of democracy to reduce the needs for agitation against marginalisation by majority within the Nigerian state.

The NEW STATE can be constituted as needed to deliver justice to the oppressed people of Annang Nation and other friendly neighbours. This entity as is currently considered has a sizeable population to become a viable state within the Nigerian Nation. It also has geographical continuity to connect the populace. No individual or group should be offended by our request because we are trying to create an extended platform for development and to bring the government closer to the people. Thoughtful groups or individual should lend their support for our cause. The NEW STATE should become a sister state to Akwa Ibom State, as is currently happening in states within the South-East Zone. This people because of their foresight did not work against creation of more states in their Zone. All statutory allocations come to their many states to provide resources for material and human development in their localities. This zone is currently requesting for more states for their zone. They deserve it. Annang and our friendly neighbours also deserve a state of their own to provide the platform for even development to make us benefit from the fruits of our democracy. This will reduce cry of oppression and marginalisation.

We write with a very heavy heart because our children will live in the same situation that led to the slaughter of our people in the civil war. As allocations and political discussions are made without the mention of our name, as other groups asked for the creation of additional states while we look and wonder, as our young men asked why our language is not heard in school, we ponder our citizenship and seek answers.

A state ought to be created out of the current Akwa Ibom State. Whether that means the redrawing of boundaries that brings in other groups to join us, the Ibibios and Annangs need more than the current single state.

We thank you for your time and pray for the health of our country. Long Live Nigeria!

We are:

1. The Rev. Ezekiel Umo Ette, Ph.D., Portland, Oregon
2. Michael Ebewo, Ed.D., New Jersey
3. Mr. Usenobong Bassey, Maryland
4. REV. Thomas Ebong,Ph.D., Detroit, Michigan
5. Prof. Fabian Udo, Ph.D., USA
6. Mr. Ekerete Umoren, Columbia, Maryland.
7. Dr. Essien Essien, Los Angeles, California
8. Mr. Ukpong Ekam, Washington, DC
9. Victor E. Udoh, Ph.D., Newark, Delaware
10. Prof. Celestine Ntuen, Ph.D. Greensboro, North Carolina
11. Prof. Victor Obot, Ph.D., USA
12. Mr. Imo Udo-Utun, Philadelphia
13. Mr. Christopher Ekpoudom, Atlanta, Georgia
14. Samuel Uko-Nne, Ph.D., New Jersey (Chairman, BOD,NAF )
15. Mr. Emmanuel Umoh, Dallas, Texas
16. Rev. Nse Ette-Umoh, Portland, Oregon
17. Otuekong Gregory D. Udoka, Silverspring, Maryland
18. Udoudo J. Umoh, Ph.D., Miami, Florida
19. Mr. Victor Mbaba, Atlanta, Georgia
20. Chief Ime Umoh, Queens, New York
21. Chief Okon James Akpan, Portland, Oregon
22. Mr. Uwemedimo Etim Ntekpere, Vancouver, Washington
23. Mr. Nsima Ntekpere, Portland, Oregon
24. Mr. Henry Etteh, Portland, Oregon
25. Mr. John Umo Ette, Portland Oregon
26. Mrs. Nse Ezekiel Ette, Portland, Oregon
27. Mr. Udoette D. Isaiah, Long Island, New York.
28. Mrs. Arit Uko-Nne, New Jersey
29. Mrs. Juliana Ebewo, New Jersey.
30. Mr. Isidore Udoudoh, Atlanta, Georgia
31. Mrs. Veronica Udoudoh, Atlanta, Georgia
32. Mr. Ofonime Ukpong, USA
33. Dr. Jimmy Umoh, Miramar, Florida
34. Ms. Anastasia Udoh, Greenbelt, Maryland
35. Mr. Elijah Udomah, Minneapolis, Minnesota
36. Dr. Atta Ubokudom, Southfield, Michigan
37. Mr. Emmanuel Bassey, Westerville, Ohio
38. Mrs. Itoro G. Dan, Silverspring, Maryland.

For and on Behalf Of NTO ANNANG FOUNDATION, USA, INC.