Civil Society Organisation in Akwa Ibom State, Open Forum has denied the allegation by the secretary of Ibeno Clan Council, Chief Udofia Okon Udofia that its advocacy and positions over the disputed Forest Reserve in the State is fueling tension.
Ibeno Council of Elders through the secretary expressed reservations over Open Forum’s recent advocacies for the resolution of the perennial crisis over Stubb Creeks.
The elders queried the Organisation’s legal status to interfere in the matter, alleging that the Open Forum is secretly working for the opposing communities of Ekid.
Ibeno Stakeholders faulted Okono’s appeal to the state government to withdraw its position on the disputed reserve, the continued detention of Princess Udoito, and the alignment of the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Highway through the area.
However, Founder of Open Forum, Mathew Kofi Okono, in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday said the allegation of fueling tension was unfounded, malicious and unsubstantiated.
Okono described as ironical, Ibeno’s statements saying that they are even the potential beneficiaries of the advocacy. He said it was on record how the organisation had earlier pressed on the Akwa Ibom State government to develop the marginalized oil rich communities of Ibeno and the urgent call it raised on the need to establish the Oil and Gas Producing Community Development Commission to ensure they have specific benefits from the 13% Derivation.
He also denied working for EPU or for any community as alleged by Ibeno people, saying that Open Forum has been fair to all parties and only promotes social equity and justice.
He recalled that Open Forum in one of its radio programmes had invited representatives of both Ekid and Ibeno as well as other contenders to the ownership of the creek to tell their side of the story on the disputed Reserve and proffer possible solutions but Ibeno and Ekid people never showed up even after some correspondences were sent across.
He therefore called on Ibeno Clan Council to either produce the evidence of their emerging alliance with Ekid people, withdraw its damaging publication or risk a legal battle.
“We view these allegations as a serious attack on our integrity and reputation. Accordingly, we demand an immediate retraction of these false statements and a public apology from those responsible for their dissemination.
“We reserve the right to pursue all legal remedies available to us if Chief Udofia Okon Udofia, Ibeno Clan Council do not apologise and withdraw these malicious and defamatory publications. We urge the public and the media to disregard this baseless claim emanating from a supposed royal and revered institution. We remain steadfast in our mission and will not be distracted by attempts to discredit our work through misinformation.”
While reiterating his call for peace between the Ekid and Ibeno people over the forest reserve and government’s diplomacy in its interventions, Okono said “the multi-trillion investments locked down in the Stubb Creek Forest Reserve shall be unlocked soon with peace and development unleashed on that land that has possibly taken more lives than any other part of the state.”
