IKOT EKPENE AT 70: Madam Mbakwo R. U. Umo-Inyang hails the past heroes, charges present leaders
History made it on Wednesday, 11th April, 1951 that the then British Colonial District Officer (D.O.), Colonel E. C. Alderton transited power to Late Chief Robert Udoaka Umoinyang of Nyaranyin Ntong Uno, as the first black man in the history of the British Africa Colony back then to have taken power to run an Administrative duty. He became the first Local Government Chairman of Ikot Ekpene in 1951.
It is no new news that Ikot Ekpene is the first Local Government Area in the British Africa Colony. Even when Ikot Ekpene had existed geographically, April 11 1951 gave birth to a native Administrative setting in the British Africa Colony, beginning with Ikot Ekpene. The British colonialists experimented the possibility of the natives to be used to govern the blacks. And the success of the experimentation convinced the British of the possibility. This conviction came from the Administrative dexterity of late Chief Robert Umoinyang. And from there, the Local Government Administration was extended to other British Colonies.
Late Chief R. U. Umoinyang(MBE) was born in 1900 and died in 1972. About 49 years after his demise, his direct link and widow, Madam Mbakwo R. U. Umoinyang still lives: strong and healthy in her centennial age. In fact, she is 108years old and by God’s grace, she shall be celebrating her 109th birthday later in the year.
As Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area turns 70, worth celebrating, Madam Mbakwo reminiscents on some of the legends and legendaries that gave Ikot Ekpene a mark. She remembers Akpan Etokakpan of Ikot Esetang Uruk Uso. According to her, Akpan Etokakpan whom Etokakpan Road is named after, was the first Paramount Chief of the Annang. Etokakpan as learnt used to serve as an interpreter in the British Courts.
Still on the list of the legends she could recall are Harry Akpanudo of Ifuho, Joseph Ito of Nyaranyin, Udo Udo Okure of Ikot Ekpene, Bassey Ukpong Ukpong of Ikot Obong Edong, Chief Akai of Ikot Ekpene, Ekukinam Bassey, Rev. Effiong Ikpe(Barr) and R. U. Umoinyang. With these calibre of influencers and many more, Ikot Ekpene was made great, she noted.
According to her, the greatness of Ikot Ekpene was quantified by these influencers and the developmental projects they were able to draw. Madam Mbakwo noted that with such great men, Ikot Ekpene was able to record the firsts among other Areas, to attract some developmental projects. According to the centennial, Ikot Ekpene used to draw developmental projects to itself before many other Area, especially in what is now the present Akwa Ibom State. Projects such as Nigeria Prison yard where Chief Obafemi Awolowo served. Others are Telecom(Nitel), Library, General Hospital, Police Station, Post Office, Electricity, Pipe-borne water and many more. Most of these were enjoyed in Ikot Ekpene first in what is now the present Akwa Ibom State, she recalls.
Rhetorically she asked, how the then Ibibio State College, now State College would have been sited in Ikot Ekpene if we didn’t have influencers? She noted that they were not only influencers, but wheeled by sense of patriotism, selflessness and determination.
Madam Mbakwo Umoinyang decry how Ikot Ekpene was moved away from the focus of their forebears. And at a time, instead of leading, Ikot Ekpene was following. She commends the effort of Senator Godswill Akpabio, who in his days as Governor gave Ikot Ekpene a new look.
The centenarian now charge the present leaders to look back at the records set by their forebearers. And get more challenged to doing more with the sense of selflessness and determination to serve the people. She wish Ikot Ekpene to be competing with Umuahia, Calabar, etc for development as the forebears had laid a solid foundation.
Madam Mbakwo Umoinyang then paid a special tribute to her late husband, late Chief R. U. Umoinyang whom she said was peaceful, loving, caring and kind to his family and people around him. Saying that his memory still lives afresh in her, 49 years after his demise. And to the public according to her, late Umoinyang was a great and astute figure for Ikot Ekpene and the general public to have had. She agreed that he could be immortalised as a national figure like the Akinkumi and likes.
Finally, Madam Mbakwo offered a special prayer to the leaders in Ikot Ekpene for God to lead them aright to align with the dreams of the heroes past for a greater Ikot Ekpene and Akwa Ibom State at large.
