The last time the royal fathers in Akwa Ibom sat in a forum in this mode to resolve a major contending issue, was sometime in January 2012 at the instance of Senator Godswill Akpabio, then Governor of Akwa Ibom State following the collapse of negotiations with the Nigerian Labour Congress in the State led by Comrade Unyime Usoro. The issue at the time was the protracted industrial action occasioned by the minimum wage increment to 18,000 naira. While the national leadership of the NLC called of the strike July penultimate year, Akwa Ibom State labour leadership sustained the strike into the new year and insisted that they would listen to no other music except that which harmonizes the increment across all the salary grade levels. The Royal fathers had to leave their comfort zones to come help talk to the labour leaders.

It is fast becoming a cliché, that what the elder sees sitting down, an infant cannot see from an Iroko tree. It is common knowledge that in the season of politics, the Chiefs and Elders get more consultation items based on the volume of contenders and the attendant conflicts. In some localities, the elders even instigate the conflicts in order to be at the receiving end, as mediators. Akwa Ibom Royal fathers are different: they are neither greedy nor self-seeking and would rather reign over peace than a war-torn hostile society. They know the essence of harmony and peaceful coexistence and they are also ready to stand by the truth and defend it.

Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Etuk, the Akwa Ibom Supreme Monarch, is a father, a model of peace and a great patriot. He went all out to bring together Barr. Onofiok Luke (Federal Law Maker, Representing Etinan Federal Constituency, and Former Speaker Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly) and Pastor Umo B Eno (the P.D.P Governorship candidate) because, according to him, he couldn’t watch his sons not at peace with each other, while he’s still alive.

The Monarch used his position as the King of the Ibibios, the head of all the traditional institutions in the state, and the host paramount ruler of the two political contenders to bring together royal fathers from other parts of the State for the peace brokering. The monarchs present included the Paramount Rulers of Eket, Esit Eket, Ikot Abasi, Ibesikpo Asutan, and even Ibiono Ibom local government area.

In Dr. Solomon Etuk’s words, “Edong ubok eto inwang ami ke edo ndito eka.” The farm work should be done together by brothers in order to achieve better results. The Royal fathers from their position of trust and wisdom, know that Akwa Ibom people are honest people and that they will not betray the only political vehicle that has brought all the dividends on their landscape. The fathers also know that Pastor Umo Eno is the best among the rest and as a clergy and one without malice, he wouldn’t take any course of action that will mortgage the peaceful state of the State. They also, are aware that there is no way one who has been successful in private investments would not be successful in managing state resources to the common good of all. Like Obong Victor Attah said recently, as elders they examined all the aspirants and the one who met their nod, was the man who had no history of belonging to any group or pecuniary interest, as his only established group was the Akwa Ibom group.

Pastor Umo Eno’s action portrays humility and he can be described as a man of love and peace with a large heart who is ready to carry everyone along as expected of a good leader. ”I may be your senior by age, but you are older to me in politics and I do not take this endorsement for granted”, Pastor Eno replied Onofiok Luke immediately, and added that, “Your people shall be my people,” thereby allaying fears and doubts on what could become of the supporters of the former Speaker.

Barr. Onofiok Luke is a milord, gentle, calm, kind, peaceable, and affable. It would be an understatement to say that there were pressure from friends, allies and kinsmen for Onofiok to hold on to the battle and rather scatter the cooking pot, than to throw in the towel. By right, he has the experience and exposure in politics and is very loved by several youths within and outside the state. He would have behaved like Rehoboam by heeding to the council of some of his contemporaries who would love to see a clash. But he did what Rehoboam, son of Solomon refused to do: he heeded the council of the Royal fathers and offered to support Pastor Eno to victory. For what else are noble men known? Onofiok, just like others, knows that Umo Eno has a forgiving heart, and will still gladly welcome back everyone who returns, even after he assumes office as the Governor in 2023. The former State Assembly speaker, knows that all those using leaves and brooms to bark at the PDP Hilltop Mansion Top Contender, will end up putting those leaves on swept grounds for the next Governor of the State, and would receive a warm embrace from him. But Onofiok, a Qua Iboe Church baptized brethren knows that a good name is worth more than riches, opted for wise counsel and today stensils his name boldly in the annals of history.

It is without doubt that our culture has not had a history of violent people who despise peace, and these royal fathers have reinvented those values by coming out to sue for peace through a harmonious reconciliation process for the noble gentlemen. This one simple but powerful step teaches a lesson, especially to those who have already begun throwing tantrums at a political platform that made them who they are in the society today. A lesson, that what does not favour you today may definitely favour you tomorrow. Indeed, kudos to our royal fathers, for cementing their position as the true custodians of our people’s ancient values and culture, a tradition of peaceful coexistence and harmony.