His Royal Majesty, Edidem Udo Joe Ntuk Obom XII, is the paramount ruler of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with Ofonime Honesty and Joseph Atainyang, the royal father spoke on issues regarding tourism development, need to preserve colonial relics, especially in Ikot Abasi LGA.
Your Royal Majesty, why did the early white men come to reside in Ikot Abasi?
You know we are at the waterfront. Most trades in those days were done through water channels. That’s what brought them to Ikot Abasi. It wasn’t only the slave trade. The British government which ruled Nigeria started from Ikot Abasi. Lord Lugard lived here. Hope you’ve seen the Bridge of No Return. You’ve seen the slave bunker. You’ve seen the Lord Lugard’s House and Office, the cemeteries where the Whites were buried, the slave warehouse and even the scale. That shows you that when the northerners think that Lord Lugard lived in the North to divide Nigeria, it wasn’t so. The treaty was done here in Ikot Abasi.
What is the significance of the Bridge of No Return to Akwa Ibom people?
It is indeed a very significant landmass. The slaves were not only from Ikot Abasi but came from all parts of this state and the country. The Bridge of No Return was only the channel through which they could be transported. One of the ships sank at Esene Creeks. The wreckage is still there in the waters. The British also had their feet in Calabar. That was the first capital of this country. There was trade link between the British and the people of Ikot Abasi. Trading involves a lot of people. Strangers from all parts of the country always moved down to this place to buy what we had at that time. They bought from us and also sold their wares. But as you can see, the place is rotting by the day.
Is government doing anything to preserve these relics, especially the Lord Lugard’s House and Office?
The government does not see the need to preserve these things. It is not necessarily about re-roofing the place. Modernizing it will take the ancient colouration off it. We are only to protect and preserve their originality so they can remain attractive sites for tourism. That’s what it should be. Both the federal and the state governments have done nothing about it. Lord Lugard’s House should be a befitting monument for people to study and get to know about him. There is an adage that seeing is believing. Now you’ve seen it. The sites are still there till tomorrow. But it continues to decay and dilapidate because no efforts have been made to keep them in good shape.
The rail-tracks are still visible behind the warehouse. What business were they doing to require such infrastructure?
The rails served the purpose of transportation. The wares were moved from far and near. That’s the more reason rail lines in Ikot Abasi should be restored. The Whites were actually buying palm oil in the past. It was a big trade. The Northerners still come here till today for our palm oil. We are no more exporting them to the Whites. The usage of the palm oil is high because it is still a lucrative trade for us today.
Have you personally reached out to the state government or the local government authority on why the decay should be addressed?
We celebrate the Women War Memorial here on a yearly basis. That’s a good occasion where we address issues of grave concern to us. We don’t necessarily write to government. That riots the woman staged against the British happened here. The war claimed many lives. It spread to other places like Aba in present day Abia State. The mother of late Sir Justice Udo Udoma was killed in the riot. We always use that occasion to talk so that government can take care of the place and make it befitting for tourism purpose.
At the Woman War Memorial Centre built by Senator Helen Esuene, you will see a lot of carved and graven images to depict the bravery of our women who took the destiny of their future generations in their hands. Although some of them lost their lives, they demonstrated resilience and courage to resist undue exploitations and taxation by the colonialists. These are things which attract tourists.
It’s interesting that there is the Women War Memorial Centre and the relics of the Bridge of No Return. Are there other tourist sites in Ikot Abasi?
There is sandbank in Ikot Abasi here. That can be developed for tourism. It is a large place where people can gather to have sunbath. These things are very important to us and those who are conversant with culture and tourism. Let me use this medium to call on the government of Akwa Ibom State and even the Federal Government to join hands and develop these places for tourism. Such tourism centres would serve us today, tomorrow and beyond.
