Ibeno Community Issues Conditions For Reintegration, Readmittance of Ilajes.

Akaiso Akaiso, Uyo.

The displaced Ilaje people from the inter tribal feud between them and their Mkpanak, Ibeno host Community which occured about four months ago, still taking refuge in Eket can now heave a sigh of relief.

The reason is that the authority of that local government area has finally agreed to issue what it terms conditions for Reintegration and Readmittance of Ilajes to Ibeno local government area.

The intent of the said document otherwise referred to as ground rules for Ilajes domiciled in Ibeno local government area is to instill mutual respect between the Ilajes, who hitherto had been very reckless in handling issues relating to their host, simply because they claim they are richer, which snowballed to the crisis.

Divided into many sections starting with the ground rules, followed subsequently by guidelines for sales at the beach, drying Klein operation (ebanda).

The two page document which also includes boat management and landing fees, fishing expedition and community responsibilities, was handed over to the representatives of Ilaje people in the last week meeting with the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo and the representatives of Ibeno community in government house, Uyo.

Leaving the deputy governor’s office dejected and armed with the documents, the spokes person James Ajele told the Champion Newspaper that Ilaje people are prepared to abide by the conditions as stipulated in the documents.

But however he complained of some sub items which he said do not go down well with their collective interests.

To this end, he appealed to Akwa Ibom state government and Ibeno local government to intervene while urging the Ibeno community to temper justice with mercy by totally reviewing the said sections.

The sections and sub sections include but not limited to the undermentioned as they are numerous:

” No visitors, non Indigenes of Ibeno will buy directly from any fishing boat at the beach. Fine twenty thousand Naira only. All catches including gray fish and other fishes up to five basins shall be sold at the ratio of 2:3 to Mkpanak and Ilaje women.

“Catches from Tilapia draw nets will be bought by Ibeno local government women at the ratio aforementioned. Ibeno indigenes will have the first right of refusal of buying from any boats at any location.  All gray fish and other fishes measured in basins or in whole will attract compulsory sale tax of three hundred Naira only payable to Ibeno women association with receipt.”

As earlier stated, there are several others as contained in the documents which space might not permit for listing, which Mr. Ajele popularly called Jeje, who bemoaned the losses they have incurred following the crisis, sought to be reviewed or outrightly expunged.

“We have lost almost everything we have suffered over the years to acquire. From outdoor engines, boats, cars and houses and even physical cash, and subjecting us to such tight and stringent conditions is a negation to business aim which is to make profit,” he lamented.

Attempt to get reactions from the deputy governor’s office, representatives of Ibeno and even the Paramount ruler, HRM Ovong Effiong Achianga did not yield fruits but sketchy information reaching this paper maintains that Akwa Ibom state government has not really done much to alleviate the plight of over ten thousand displaced Ilaje people, except promises.