39 Years After: Udoh Calls For Honour To Akwa Ibom Pioneers Statehood

By Sammy Etuk Jnr

Elder statesman and a prominent participant in the struggle for the creation of Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udoh, has commended Governor Umo Bassey Eno for the commitment of his administration to the development of the state as Akwa Ibom commemorates 39 years of statehood.

Udoh, who was a member of the Second Assembly in the Cross River State House of Assembly, was among those who gave political expression to the demand for a separate state for the mainland people of the then Cross River State. On October 24, 1983, he moved a motion in the House calling for the creation of a new state, at a time when the campaign had become an important political demand.

His intervention formed part of the onerous campaign for the creation of a state for the mainland people of the then Cross River State. The renewed drive, which began in 1975, ultimately bore fruit on September 23, 1987, when the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida created Akwa Ibom State.

In a goodwill message marking the 39th anniversary, Udoh said the occasion offered the people an opportunity to consider the journey of the state since its creation, acknowledge the contributions of successive administrations and appreciate the sacrifices that made the emergence of Akwa Ibom possible.

He congratulated Governor Eno on the anniversary and commended his administration for its work in the state. Udoh observed that Eno is the fifth civilian governor to mark an anniversary of the state in office, and placed the present administration within the succession of governments that have contributed to the development of Akwa Ibom.

For Udoh, however, the story of Akwa Ibom cannot be confined to the achievements of governments alone. He emphasised the contributions made by successive administrations to the welfare of the people, noting that the state of Akwa Ibom today is the result of efforts made at different stages of its history.

The elder statesman reserved particular recognition for the founding fathers of the state. He added that their sacrifices deserve commendation, acknowledgement and honour, because they secured for the people a political entity of their own and laid the foundation upon which succeeding generations have continued to build.

He noted that the anniversary also has a deeply personal meaning for those who participated in the struggle for statehood. For him, the 39 years since the creation of Akwa Ibom represent decades of struggle, advocacy and sacrifice that should never be erased from the collective memory of the people.

“We owe them a duty to put our acts together for the development of the state at all levels, embrace unity and work together without discrimination,” Udoh said, insisting that those who fought and sacrificed for the creation of the state should not be forgotten.

He therefore appealed to the present government to establish a memorial in honour of those who genuinely fought for the creation of Akwa Ibom State and have since passed away. He also proposed an honorary award for the exceptional leaders who distinguished themselves in the struggle for statehood, as a lasting acknowledgement of their service and sacrifice.

Udoh also paid tribute to his colleagues who are no longer alive, recalling their contributions to the struggle and praying for their souls and for the families they left behind. He added that their absence should not diminish the place their sacrifices occupy in the history of Akwa Ibom.

As the state approaches its 40th anniversary, Udoh said the occasion should inspire renewed consideration of its journey, its accomplishments and the responsibilities that lie ahead. He called for continued peace and unity, and urged the people to preserve the ideals that inspired the struggle for the creation of Akwa Ibom State.