A rejoinder on the defamation, cultural desecration and unwarranted invocation against the Governor of Akwa Ibom State by Princess God’sown Udoito
The attention of the Office of the Political Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has been drawn to a series of sustained, inflammatory, abusive, intemperate, and culturally offensive utterances directed at the person and office of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D., by one Princess God’sown Udoito of Esit-Eket Local Government Area, made through repeated Facebook rants laden with curses, invectives, and gutter language.
This response is not an attempt to stifle dissent or suppress legitimate civic expression. This administration recognizes and respects the constitutional right of citizens to question policies, express grievances, and engage government constructively. However, it is imperative to state without ambiguity, that no right exists in law, culture, or morality that permits the desecration of leadership, the abuse of elders, or the cursing of the collective destiny of a people under the guise of activism.
In the culture and traditions of Akwa Ibom State and indeed across Africa, leadership is not merely an office or a casual position; it is symbolized by a sacred stool that embodies the dignity, authority, inheritance, continuity, and the collective identity of the people. The occupant of the stool is inseparable from its symbolism and is a custodian of the people’s trust and destiny. Consequently, whoever curses that occupant curses not only the stool but the people whose heritage it represents.
Our elders taught us that no one defecates on the stool of leadership and expects to sit on it or by any member of such family. In those days, such an act attracted severe sanctions because it was understood that cursing leadership severs one’s lineage from honour, recognition, and future authority. Though contemporary society may no longer enforce ritual penalties, the moral, social, and spiritual consequences of such conduct remain real and unavoidable.
His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D., occupies that stool today. By virtue of that position, he personifies the authority of the state, while the stool itself symbolizes the collective will and dignity of Akwa Ibom people. The stool and the occupant are inseparable. Whatever is done to one reflects on the other. In our tradition, it is deeply offensive and an abomination to call elders and leaders out by their personal names in a manner intended to demean, insult and curse them. Therefore, calling the Governor of Akwa Ibom State by his personal name for the purpose of insults, curses and gutter language, is not merely a personal affront, but a cultural taboo, morally reprehensible and an attack on the collective identity of Akwa Ibom State.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with government policies, there is a line that civilization, culture and decency forbid anyone from crossing. His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D., is not merely a man; he is the elected Governor and Leader of Akwa Ibom State, constitutionally clothed with power, authority and therefore culturally deserving of respect. Addressing him with contempt is an affront to the people he represents.
It is important to state that the substance of any grievances-whether legitimate or imagined is not the issue here. Whether the complaints relate to environmental concerns, the Stubbs Creek Forest, masquerade regulations, or any other policy matter, none warrants the use of venomous language or the pouring of curses on leadership. They are instead policy matters that lend themselves to dialogue, advocacy and lawful engagement and not curses, insults or threats of diabolical retaliation.
It must also be clearly stated that leadership is not self-appointed. Scripture reminds us that authority is permitted by God and that people often receive the kind of leaders their conduct attracts. To curse leadership is, in effect, to curse one’s own future, dignity, and inheritance. The Word of God in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, admonishes us to pray for those in authority because the wellbeing of the people is tied to the wellbeing and stability of their leaders. When leadership is cursed, the consequences do not stop with the leader; they ripple through families, communities, and generations.
Threats to invoke deities against a duly elected Governor reveal a profound misunderstanding of governance, spirituality and the rule of law. His Excellency was freely elected by the people of Akwa Ibom State and inaugurated under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His Excellency enjoys both constitutional legitimacy and divine covering. Scripture is unequivocal that no weapon fashioned against such authority shall prosper and that every tongue raised in judgment shall be condemned. Reckless utterances do not weaken leadership; they rebound upon the speaker and their posterity.
Equally disturbing and of grave concern are observed actions of certain traditional rulers within Esit-Eket, who, instead of exercising wisdom and restraint, allegedly celebrated and honored such conduct with a traditional title and a certificate of honor to boot. One wonders what message these clan heads and chiefs are passing with such an action? Traditional institutions exist to uphold values, preserve order, and protect the dignity of society. They are not accomplices for encouraging disrespect, abuse of elders, or contempt for constituted authority. Invocation of deities on the name and person of a seating Leader and Governor by a woman cannot therefore be condoned or encouraged by any Traditional Ruler.
It must be duly noted that the stool of traditional leadership is junior to the constitutional stool of the Governor, and traditional rulers derive their recognition and authority within the state from the Governor’s prerogative. Consequently, any action that appears to align traditional authority against the dignity of the governor is not only inappropriate but inconsistent with the responsibilities attached to such positions. Where such lapses occur, as in this instance, it is within the Governor’s constitutional and administrative powers to review appointments and take appropriate steps to preserve the sanctity of leadership and uphold public order. Such review in this instance is most respectfully solicited as a deterrent.
As a measure of preserving our core values, I am calling on our Elders and Chiefs to counsel and admonish our sons and daughters against indulging in dishonourable use of gutter languages or exhibiting other character peccances on our Leaders and Leadership stools, as all of us are heirs in different capacities either at our homes, churches, villages, offices and other places of responsibilities, this if done sincerely, will excuse our societies from generational curses and retrogression. Supporters of conducts alien to our norms and conventions must refrain from such evil acts to cleanse our society of doom and reign of insecurity.
Akwa Ibom women are historically known as home builders, moral anchors, advisers, and models of restraint and wisdom. The conduct exhibited in these public attacks by Princess Udoito is alien to the character, temperament and values of Akwa Ibom womanhood. It is an aberration and it is not an authentic representation of our mothers, daughters or sisters, nor does it reflect the ethos of the Ekid people, who are known for dignity, industry and respect for authority.
If these actions of hers are being instigated or encouraged by political actors who were unsuccessful at the polls, it is important to state clearly and without ambiguity that Governor Umo Bassey Eno bears no responsibility for their electoral misfortune. His Excellency emerged as Governor through a free, fair, and credible democratic process and was duly elected by the overwhelming will of the people of Akwa Ibom State. That legitimate mandate should not, and must not, attract bitterness, sustained hostility, or campaigns of personal vilification, masquerading as activism or public commentary.
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The ban on masquerades on major highways and roads, especially during the yuletide season for instance, was not an attack on culture, but a public safety measure consistent with actions taken by previous administrations to curb excesses, prevent violence and protect innocent citizens- especially in light of recent incidents involving masquerade-related assaults. Responsible governance demands difficult decisions in the interest of the greater good.
This is a call on Princess God’sown Udoito to immediately desist from further abusive conduct, reflect deeply on the implication of her words and channel whatever concerns she has through respectful, lawful and constructive means. Constructive criticism is healthy and welcome. Abuse is destructive and unacceptable. Advocacy strengthens democracy; contempt weakens it. Passion is no substitute for wisdom, and outrage is no justification for cultural sacrilege.
Akwa Ibom State must not mortgage its future on the altar of social-media recklessness. Words are powerful. Destinies are tied to utterances. Generations are affected by what is spoken in anger and contempt, and Cultures are preserved or destroyed by what we tolerate.
I also call on elders, opinion leaders, traditional institutions and responsible citizens of Esit-Eket and Ekid nation to intervene with counsel and restraint, ensuring that no single individual drags an entire people into avoidable controversy and cultural disrepute. History teaches us that nations fall not only by bad leadership but by reckless followership. Silence in the face of cultural abuse is complicity.
Let it be firmly established that this is therefore not an attack on free speech, but a defense of our shared values, our collective dignity and the sanctity of leadership; grievances, however legitimate, must be presented with respect, civility, and decorum. Leadership is sacred. Culture is sacred. Our collective inheritance is sacred. We must not allow the actions of one individual, unchecked and unchallenged, to invite consequences upon the land.
This administration remains committed to peace, dialogue, cultural preservation, and inclusive governance. All well-meaning citizens are encouraged to engage constructively with respect, decency, and cultural consciousness, thereby upholding the values that have sustained Akwa Ibom State through generations.
Signed:
Office of the Political Adviser to the Governor,
Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh, Ph.D.,
Government House, Uyo.
