On September 1st, 2017, a rather interesting match was played at the Nest of Champions, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions. Fortunately, Nigeria thrashed the Lions with a four goals to nil score line. The country has since been in high spirits. However, the immediate hosts of the match, the good people of Akwa Ibom state, are hurting.

The match, like all events of such magnitude, was reported on National TV. NTA however, had it that the match was played in Calabar, Cross River State – a rather egregious error for a national TV station. And this little mistake is the reason why Akwa Ibomites are hurting: the fact that Uyo was elided for Calabar, or that Uyo was subsumed under Calabar.

This obvious mistake seems quite a trifle for an entire people to pine over, and it’s definitely something that can be overlooked. But it seems that it has become a norm; at least it has become so commonplace as to be carried on national TV! Since Akwa Ibom was created from Cross River state thirty years ago, and given the relative cultural uniformity of both states, it seems that in the minds of people, Akwa Ibom is yet to exist. So, a lot of people just say Calabar (the capital city of Cross River), when they mean to say Uyo (the capital city of Akwa Ibom). An NTA scrollbar advert during yesterday’s news even said that the match was played in Calabar. But IT’S UYO, NOT CALABAR; IT’S AKWA IBOM, NOT CROSS RIVER.



Even though the people of Akwa Ibom very readily identify with those of Cross River, it is outrageous to see Akwa Ibom through the eyes of Cross River, to put it that way. It’s a slight on the pride of Akwa Ibomites as a socio-political unit.

A state that is 30 years old is not a small state. And even if age doesn’t count, solid personal achievements cannot be ignored.
Akwa Ibom has recorded the following achievements and must be given her pride of place amongst other states:

· The 1914 Amalgamation Declaration was done in the present-day Ikot Abasi Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. Nigeria began to exist as a single, even if incoherent, political entity from Akwa Ibom. We have Sir Fredrick Lord Lugard’s residence here, which should have, by now, become a national tourist attraction.

· The famous women’s riot of 1929 which lead to a micro-war against taxation in the entire south eastern region began in Ikot Abasi. The panel that sat thereafter to investigate the matter only did so in Aba. But till today, that riot is still fallaciously referred to as the Aba Women’s Riot.
· Akwa Ibom produced one of Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor – Clement ISONG.

· Akwa Ibom produced one of Nigeria’s first legal luminaries – Justice Udo UDOMA, first Chief Justice of Kenya.

· Akwa Ibom produced Nigeria’s first Nigerian WBC Boxing Champion – Samuel OKON Peter.

· Akwa Ibom has produced the likes of INI Edo, IME Bishop, Emem ISONG, etc., who are contributing their quota to make Nigeria a country to reckon with in the global movie sphere.

· Akwa Ibom has one of the first Prelates of the Methodist Church – Bishop Sunday MBANG.

· In literature, Akwa Ibom has produced Uwem AKPAN, Anietie ISONG, etc., whose works have won laurels.

· And to add to all these, Akwa Ibom is also the number one producer of oil in the nation
And, for a lot of those who do not know, the Efik people of Calabar migrated from the now Uruan Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.

Till today, whenever the Obong of Calabar dies, it is an Uruan man that crowns another. The Efik people as we know them today are ethnic children, more or less, of the Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom state.

The essence of this campaign is not to spread bile between these two sister tribes. It is just to set records straight. Indeed, as it is said, you bale the water while it is still at the knees. If such a scandalizing error can be made on national TV, the water has indeed come to the ankle. Every people have the right to self-assertion. Surely any well-meaning Nigerian can understand that, especially looking at our multi-lingual, multi-ethnic nation.

We want Nigerians and indeed the entire world to know that there is Uyo, just as there is Calabar, and that there is Akwa Ibom, just as there is Cross River. We are Akwa Ibomites, not Cross Riverians, and this needs to register in every mind!

We are of the opinion, that NTA should tender an apology to the Akwa Ibom people and we've gone ahead to create a petition to that regard. Sign the petition here, if you share in our opinion>

Join the campaign: #UyoNotCalabar; #AkwaIbomNotCrossRiver. It might not bother you today, but someday it might.

Ok

The match, like all events of such magnitude, was reported on National TV. NTA however, had it that the match was played in Calabar, Cross River State – a rather egregious error for a national TV station. And this little mistake is the reason why Akwa Ibomites are hurting: the fact that Uyo was elided for Calabar, or that Uyo was subsumed under Calabar.

NTA is still dwelling in the pre 87 era when Calabar was the capital of Cross River state still having Uyo as one of the towns in the state, before the creation of Akwa Ibom from it.

Little wonder Channels, AIT, Silverbird, TVC et al have surpassed NTA in terms of relevance.

May be because of the believe that akwa ibom speaks calabar language,

For more info on the campaign, please visit>> http://ibompr.com

NTA news ticker (Scroll bar) reported the match was played in Calabar. That's too big an error for a National TV. The Akwa Ibom people deserve an apology.

Oga Lalasticlala

NTA really should tender an apology to the Akwa Ibom people.



cc; Mynd44, OAM4J

xcommando:
May be because of the believe that akwa ibom speaks calabar language,

Akwa Ibom does not speak Calabar language. Calabar (Cross River State) speaks Efik while Akwa Ibom majorly speaks Ibibio. Yes, some part of Akwa Ibom does speak Efik but the major language is Ibibio.

Tolexander:
NTA is still dwelling in the pre 87 era when Calabar was the capital of Cross River state still having Uyo as one of the towns in the state.

Little wonder Channels, AIT, Silverbird, TVC et al have surpassed NTA in terms of relevance.

Its a shame. They need to understand Its #UyoNotCalabar

A state that has existed for 30 years is not a small state. An Akwa Ibom boy/girl is not a Calabar boy/girl.

Akwa Ibom - Uyo
Cross River - Calabar

So Imo and Abia, Kebbi and Sokoto, Whatdaya Goat To Say?

That bike should be riding them, not the other way round.

NCP:
So Imo and Abia, Kebbi and Sokoto, Whatdaya Goat To Say?

Please help us spread this message

Mynd44, OAM4J, Lalasticlala

IbomPR:

· Akwa Ibom produced Nigeria’s first Central Bank Governor – Clement ISONG.

·

cc: Lalasticlala

The first governor of central bank was alhaji mai borno. His picture is on the 1000 naira note. Op your post is full of lies and it doesn't worth front page.

NCP:
So Imo and Abia, Kebbi and Sokoto, Whatdaya Goat To Say?

it's the same thing just like AKWA IBOM AND CROSS RIVER STATE ARE THE SAME THING.

markfemisgay:

The first governor of central bank was alhaji mai borno. His picture is on the 1000 naira note. Op your post is full of lies and it doesn't worth front page.

have you held a #1000note before?

MyNewJackeT:


have you held a #1000note before?

?.

Diz Akwa Ibom people na tribal bigots


we see una as de same so make una no dey differentiate



See as dem dey chest beat dey call useless people as great people


Akwa Ibom as a whole cannot compete with my Town Ogidi in Anambra state wen it comes to great people..

NTA been falling hands since my primary school era.
A TV station that doesn't know that Uyo is in Akwa Ibom,is that one a TV station.
Moustache fall on them

markfemisgay:

The first governor of central bank was alhaji mai borno. His picture is on the 1000 naira note. Op your post is full of lies and it doesn't worth front page.

Full of lies? why not point out the lies? Pull out your 1000 naira note and check the name of the man at the right hand side. Thanks

Clement Nyong Isong, CFR was a Nigerian banker and politician who was governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon.
Source: Wikipedia

Eastside046:
Diz Akwa Ibom people na tribal bigots


we see una as de same so make una no dey differentiate



See as dem dey chest beat dey call useless people as great people


Akwa Ibom as a whole cannot compete with my Town Ogidi in Anambra state wen it comes to great people..

can we now say ur town ogidi is in enugu state?

Ntoakwaibom

E no concern us ooo... All na calabar

ok now

Its a mistake, no one is perfect

OK the dullard have also infected NTA with brain loss.

Ppl that kill kids for being witches. Fvck em

This political TV anyone on power is their supporter if you loose you are no longer their supporter

It is well.

You mind them? Na so them go dey confuse themselves. Kudos to Obong Victor Attah and most especially Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio who took Akwa Ibom state off from the shadow of CRS. Proudly Akwa Ibomite

Imagine, such an error from NTA. Shame!
But OP, Cross Riverians do not speak just Efik, there are various languages in that state. The town's (calabar) lingua franca is Efik but it is also erroneous to think Efik is used for the whole of cross river.

#ntoakwaibom
#ayenannang

Nta Na very useless station, who still watches them?

Set in sef