hy Is Dr. Ekpo's Clanheadship Nailed On The Cross?

Before the death of the father of Doctor Ime Sunday Ekpo, the village head of Utu Edem Usung in Ikot Ekpene and Chief Executive Officer, Incarnate Holdings Limited, Okuku Sunday Udo Ekpo Akaka, many years ago, royal fathers and some cabal in Ikot Ekpene had already nursed feelings of envy against the late forefront Annang chief based on his rising profile in Annang traditional matters and his unparalleled trado-medical acumen across Annang land and beyond. Many traditional rulers and native doctors felt totally edged out of business as he used philanthropy as a strategy to swell up the file and rank of his practice. . His rising profile in traditional matters as regards preservation of Annang cultural heritage, in general, did not augur well with some royal fathers who felt threatened by the magnanimity of his popularity. Obong Sunday Udo Ekpo's legacies placed him above his contemporaries. During his life and times, most traditional fathers and native doctors occasionally perched in his palace for one advice or the other. Even as a village head, Okuku, unlike other royal fathers of his time, cared for the needy including orphans, widows, homeless and the economically weak. These attributes stimulated by the milk of human kindness in him endeared him to the hearts of many people, within and outside his kingdom.
Intimidated by the wholesomeness of his growing legacies, some which have reflected in local and international journals, like the history of the Annang culture and tradition, forces from Ikot Ekpene, in particular, rebelled against him in varying dimensions presenting him in a negative light, instead of appraising and protecting his kingship and seeing him as a role model and the chief custodian of the people's ancestry.
Okuku Sunday Udo Ekpo Akaka was, indeed, a tourism investment-personified who attracted diverse tourist groups across Nigeria and history scholars from many institutions of learning. His traditional medical practice was unrivalled across the south of the Niger Delta. His social name, Ofong enyene usung, steadily became a household name that was synonymous with perfect traditional healing, and which boosted his trado-practice. His relationship with the ancestors, perfect interpretation of traditional voices and strict observance of the cultural schedule, were some of the things that stood him out in the trado-medical and royal circles.
Going by his sweeping profile and huge patronage, other royal fathers within Ikot Ekpene Traditional Rulers Council, united to ensure that they diminished his royal fame and that of whoever would succeed him, at the instance of his death. They erroneously believed that if chance was given to him and his future successor, he would, undoubtedly, monopolize the royal empire of Ikot Ekpene and create an uncommon lineage that might give birth to a kind of family dynasty, thereby ridiculing the potency of other royal fathers of Ikot Ekpene TRC and, at the same time, sending them out of control of the over-stretched two clans.
Beyond these, Okuku Sunday Udo Ekpo Akaka was a no-nonsense man who, at all times, distanced himself from acts of injustice and oppression within his traditional jurisdiction and he did not compromise hypocrisy and selfishness, but always stood for the truth and care for the needy, irrespective of where the person came from. Another aspect of life that attracted ever-growing envy to Okuku was that while other chiefs solely depended on the government's monthly stipend as their only source of livelihood, his economic power was derived from various sources, namely, extensive farming, traditional medical practice, royalties, care by his well-established children and government's stipend. His self-made wealth, which made him completely independent stood him out and strengthened his royal voice throughout his reign.
After his death, it was decided that the village headship of Utu Edem Usung must revolve within the Akaka Dynasty, a decision that produced Doctor Ime S. Ekpo, his first son, a business mogul, as the legible successor of Okuku Sunday Udo Ekpo Akaka, as village head of Utu Edem Usung.
Dr. Ekpo's ascendancy to the royal seat did not go well with over 80% of Ikot Ekpene TRC members who felt that his popularity drawn from his international business connections, his financial strength, fearlessness and unbeatable traditional medical expertise would cripple their perceived authority and reduce their relevance. They lobbied around the then Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene, Okuku Etim Akpan Udo Ntekpere, to revoke his certificate as village head of Utu Edem Usung but failed because His Majesty understood the nitty-gritty of traditional governance coupled with Chief Ime's cultural foresights and his suitability for the throne. During the famous reign of Okuku Etim A. U. Ntekpere, Chief Ime enjoyed some level of influence of His Majesty while other prominent members of the TRC were busy secretly plotting for his downfall. Their open displeasure came to limelight when, on
February 16, 1996, Dr. Ime Ekpo was conferred with the prestigious title of Obong Uforo Ikot Ekpene, by His Royal Majesty, Okuku E. A. U.Ntekpere, a title that was based on Chief Ime's achievements in community development. This latest development heated up their atrocious mindset against Obong Uforo and widened the gap of their hatred for him. They did all they could, to diminish his authority, especially, in matters of collective voice and responsibility, knowing fully well that Chief Ime would not compromise injustice in his traditional assignments and as a village head, he would not be influenced by any government's authority and he would certainly not be parading the government's corridors for any kind of favour. As a result, most TRC meetings were convened without his awareness. He was totally sidelined in the scheme of things as far as traditional issues were converned.
When Okuku Etim Akpan Udo Ntekpere died and Okuku Augustus Jonah Ekpenyong Asiak took over the seat, the era of total persecution, against Dr. Ime Ekpo, set in. Asiak was reportedly using his position as Paramount Ruler to lobby some politicians in the state, especially from Ikot Ekpene axis, including the former governor of the state, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, to fight Dr. Ekpo, especially on the issue of Otoro-Ubo clanheadship, which Chief Ime had emerged as the winner at the elections conducted among the village heads that make up the new clan. It was widely believed that it was Asiak's influence on Chief Akpabio that stopped the certification and recognition of Ekpo's installation.
Apart from battling his royal relevance, in recent times, politicians from Ikot Ekpene have connived with some royal fathers in the local government to disposses him of his properties and hard-earned estates in and around Ikot Ekpene believing that using government authority to take over his properties was the most effective strategy, which if successful, would bring down his fame and diminish his royal influence. But the power of truth has always prevailed.
After Asiak's death, His Majesty, Okuku Okon Udo Ukut came in as Paramount Ruler of the place. His traditional governance seems to be a replica of his predecessor's, in matters concerning the fate of the new clan and its uninstalled clanhead, Dr. Ekpo. This time around, His Majesty, Obong Ukut is allegedly combining the influence of his position as Paramount Ruler and his relationship with Governor Udom as inlaw, to discourage His Excellency from issuing certificate of recognition to the new clan and crowning the clanhead-elect, to start his duties as Clan head.
In recent times, public reactions, specifically, from the civil societies, have been trending the media wondering whether Udom whose governance philosophy draws authority from Only God, which only recently, metamorphosed to That same God, would allow his divine-driven governance to be dragged into the murky waters of sentiments, hatred, nepotism and moral prejudice. Governor, as a good Christian, should be reminded of what transpired in Pilate's palace court when our Lord Jesus Christ was arraigned before him.
Definitely, Pilate's verdict was probably not from his mind; scholars believe he was deeply influenced by the dictate of the Jewish crowd, thus: "Nail Him on the cross".
It would be unimaginable, unthinkable and positively atrocious that people wake up one day and hear the voices of another crowd chorusing and urging Governor Udom to nail Dr. Ime Sunday Ekpo on the cross and deny him his traditional rights.