By Eka Sam, Uyo
The Ibeno Elders Council has strongly criticised the Ekid People’s Union (EPU) over what it described as sustained attacks and political propaganda against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, warning that attempts to drag him into the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve dispute are misleading and politically motivated.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ibeno on Saturday, the Council’s spokesman, Barrister Diamond Akpanika, said the recent statements credited to EPU were driven by bitterness and desperation following the failure of legal efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute.
According to Akpanika, the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve matter is a historical and legal issue that should not be politicised or used as a tool for gaining sympathy or relevance.
“The Stubbs Creek issue is a legal and historical matter, not a political bargaining chip. Anyone who abandoned their case at the Court of Appeal in Calabar and rejected peace initiatives proposed twice by Governor Umo Eno cannot suddenly turn around to cry injustice,” he said.
The elders explained that they had initially ignored the criticisms and public statements by EPU but decided to respond in order to set the record straight and protect institutional integrity.
“You created this controversy, abandoned it at the Court of Appeal, Calabar, and rejected the Governor’s peace committee. No amount of name-dropping will change documented facts or history. Face your self-inflicted burden and stop hiding under prominent political figures to spread falsehoods,” Akpanika added.
The Council described Senator Akpabio as a national figure whose influence goes beyond Akwa Ibom State, stressing that his current position as Senate President should be viewed as an advantage to the state rather than a target for hostility.
“Senator Akpabio is not just a senator for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District; he is the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. By virtue of that office, his impact is national. Akwa Ibom should rally behind him instead of promoting internal conflicts,” the elders stated.
They also highlighted several empowerment initiatives attributed to the Senate President, including the donation of outboard engines, fishing boats and fishing equipment to riverine women and cooperatives in Eket Senatorial District in December 2025, as well as federal appointments facilitated for indigenes of the state.
According to the elders, the hostility directed at Akpabio is not rooted in marginalisation but in resentment of his political relevance and acceptance at the national level.
The Council further condemned what it described as opposition to Akpabio’s billboards in parts of Eket Senatorial District, saying such actions exposed “political emptiness and intolerance disguised as activism.”
In addition, the elders accused EPU of frustrating development in the state by opposing major investment projects through protests, petitions and public campaigns. Projects allegedly affected include the Amakpe Refinery, Qua Steel, BUA Refinery, Chinese market investments, the East–West Road, NAF Air Base and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.
“You cannot drive away investors and later complain of unemployment. You cannot smash your own plate and then lament the absence of food,” Akpanika said.
The Council also defended Governor Umo Eno, noting that criticisms against him were linked to his refusal to endorse what they described as a “fake state map” regarding the Stubbs Creek dispute.
“The Governor chose to stand by the truth and facts. That principled stand is the real reason for the hostility against him,” the elders said.
They urged political and socio-cultural groups in Eket to embrace dialogue, political maturity and accountability, rather than directing grievances at national leaders.
“Senator Akpabio is discharging his national responsibilities with distinction. Democracy works best when people understand where their power lies and where it does not,” the Council concluded.
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