A socio-political group in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, the Eket Integrity Alliance, has called for the arrest and prosecution of the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno LGA, Effiong Archianga on the grounds of his indictment for murder and arson, by a federal government judicial panel, dating back to 1993.
In a release signed by the Secretary General of the group, Barr. Peter Akpan, the Eket Integrity Alliance condemned Archianga for his inciting outbursts, citing the Akwa Ibom Map Law as the reason behind the monarch’s actions.
Eket Integrity Alliance disclosed that Archianga was indicted for murder and arson by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up in 1993 by the then military government to unravel the mystery surrounding the dispute between Eket, Uquo Ibeno, Mbo, and Onna local government areas.
The Commission was headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ephraim Akpata.
“In 1993, Effiong Archianga sold out his Ekid people to Ibeno, a settler clan. Archianga joined Ibeno to commit genocide against the people of Esit Urua in Eket Local Government Area between December 1992 and April 1993 in the fight to annex Stubbs Creek, land of the Ekid people to Ibeno.”
“The Federal Military Government appointed a Panel of Inquiry into the disturbances and on Page 86 of the Panel’s Report, Effiong Archianga was indicted for murder and arson and recommended for prosecution.
“But it is sad that rather than answering to charges preferred against him, he frog-leapt into becoming a village head,” the group added.
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The group described the Akwa Ibom Map Law as the perfect gift from Udom Emmanuel which put an end to the many years of lies and mischief that Archianga and his cohorts have been thriving on.
“We are very much aware that this State Law which Chief Archianga and his trouble seekers are fighting against, is currently in a court of competent jurisdiction. His anger and bile against Mr Emmanuel stem from the fact that the former Governor, acceded to the voice of natural reasoning by righting years of injustice and deprivation that defied every legal means of containment.”
“Effiong Archianga as expected, will always whine and moan about the Akwa Ibom Map Law as one of his problems because Udom Emmanuel toed the part of peace by giving the State its first ever gazetted map hence putting an end to the lies and deceit Archianga and his cohorts have been peddling for years especially over the ownership of the Stubbs Creek Forest despite the 1918 Privy Court judgement.”
Eket Integrity Alliance also frowned at Archianga for consistently beating drums of war through his utterances against Ekid Nation which his origin can be traced.
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The group also called on the Ibeno Paramount Ruler to desist from heating the polity at any given opportunity especially when the State Government had forbidden Royal Fathers from granting interviews, especially on contentious issues in the state.
“It is noteworthy that the self-acclaimed ‘Professorial’ royal father’s short memory has prevented him from remembering the directive of the State Government, that forbids all monarchs from granting interviews, especially on contentious issues.
“This is especially disturbing, given the huge investments, personal appeals, and massive efforts of His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, to institutionalise peace across all parts of the state.
They further revealed that the title of Professor which Archianga parades, is also a subject of controversy.
“We won’t be tempted to dig deep into his questionable title of Professor which he believes is gotten as a traditional title.
“It is alleged that Archianga sometime in 2022 harboured a certificate syndicate in his Ibeno residence called Saint Thomas-a-Becket University, claimed to be headquartered in Canterbury, England, with a branch at Ibeno, Nigeria.”
“However, checks revealed that such a university is not recognized by the British Department of Education nor recognized by the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC.”
“Archianga arrogated to himself, a professorial title in the same year for his role in harbouring the syndicates, an allegation he is yet to counter to date.” the group said.
Eket Integrity Alliance further called on peace-loving Akwa Ibom people to ignore the rantings of the Ibeno Monarch as Pastor Umo Eno and immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel remain partners in the peace and progress of the state.
