Ethnic Superiority and the Obolo Question: A Brewing Storm in Akwa Ibom State
-By Manfred Gwunireama (United Kingdom)
Published by Oboloheritage
Nigeria, a country of great diversity and promise, continues to grapple with the challenge of ethnic justice and equitable representation. From the North to the South, the East to the West, the call for self-determination and fair political representation is as strong today as ever. One such call—genuine, legitimate, and constitutionally grounded—is the ongoing campaign for the creation of Obolo State, carved out from parts of present-day Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. However, this call is being met with stiff and troubling opposition, particularly from certain segments of the Ibibio ethnic majority in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
This opposition, rather than being based on rational political discourse or constitutional concerns, appears steeped in an unhealthy sense of ethnic superiority. It is a stance that not only undermines the principles of democracy and inclusion but also poses a significant threat to the peaceful coexistence of the various ethnic nationalities in the state.
Who Are the Obolo People?
The Obolo (including the Oro-nations, Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, and Andoni in Rivers State) historically are an ancient people with a rich cultural heritage and a well-defined geographical presence along the coastal areas of the Niger Delta. With a vibrant socio-political structure and a strong sense of identity, the Obolo people have, for decades, contributed immensely to the economic stability of Nigeria, particularly through oil and gas production.
Yet, they remain grossly marginalized, politically and economically. Infrastructure development in Obolo land lags behind, and their communities often lack basic amenities despite the resources extracted from their soil. Their demand for a state is rooted in a desire for fair treatment, recognition, and a platform to manage their own development.
The Politics of Suppression
Rather than embrace dialogue, some political elites and traditional authorities from the Ibibio ethnic extraction - which forms the majority in Akwa Ibom State—have chosen a dangerous path: resistance through intimidation, misinformation, and outright dismissal. These actions are interpreted by many as an effort to maintain political dominance and continue the marginalization of Obolo people by usurping their God given natural resources for their sole benefit.
This is not just political rivalry—it is oppression. It reflects a mindset that some ethnic groups are more entitled to governance, resources, and recognition than others. It is this same toxic mindset that has fueled countless crises in Nigeria’s past. In Akwa Ibom State, there has been efforts to completely annihilate Obololand, its people and culture through the hideous attempt to re-map Akwa Ibom State with the goal of swallowing up Obolo people and annexing them into Ibibio land, despite their unique identity as a people.
This mindset is in direct contradiction to the current government of HE Pastor Umoh Eno’s efforts at maintaining peace in the state. To cloak ethnic domination in the garb of unity is a disservice to peace. Peace cannot be built on suppression. It must be anchored on justice, equity, and mutual respect.
Democracy Demands Inclusion
In a true democracy, every ethnic group—majority or minority—has the right to pursue its political aspirations within the framework of the law. The Nigerian Constitution recognizes the possibility of state creation, and it lays out the process for doing so. It’s within their Constitutional rights for the Obolo people to agitate for self governance and this deserves attention, not hostility.
Opposing the Obolo State project based solely on ethnic prejudice or fear of losing political and resource control is unjustifiable. In fact, it betrays the very democratic values upon which modern societies are founded. A federation thrives when every group feels heard, valued, and empowered—not when some groups act as landlords over others.
The Danger Ahead
If this trend of ethnic superiority continues unchecked, it could plant the seeds of instability and fracture the relative state of fragile peace in Akwa Ibom State. Peace is not the absence of noise, but the presence of justice. When people are continually denied a voice, they will eventually find other means—sometimes destructive ones—to be heard. No one desires that future, but history has shown what happens when cries for justice are silenced.
I call on our leaders at all levels—political, traditional, and religious—to rise above parochial interests and ethnic pride. They must foster a spirit of inclusion and dialogue. Rather than resist the cry for Obolo State creation, they should ask: What does it take to ensure every ethnic group thrives within this federation?
The campaign for Obolo State is not a threat to Akwa Ibom State or any other ethnic group thereof. It is a call for justice. It is a call for freedom. It is a call for recognition, self-determination, and equal opportunity. To suppress it using the weight of ethnic dominance is to repeat the mistakes of Nigeria’s troubled past.
Nigeria must learn to treat all her children equally. Akwa Ibom State, rich in resources and blessed with diversity, must be a model of inclusion—not ethnic domination. Let us heed this warning before it’s too late.
The presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives should rise to the occasion and do the right thing. The time for fairness is now. The time to listen to the Obolo people is now.
Long live Nigeria!
Long live Akwa Ibom State!
Long live Obolo land!
We are Oboloheritage
We support totally OBOLO STATE
Read more on Obolo history
https://oboloheritage.blogspot.com/2025/07/true-history-of-obolo-obolo-state.html
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