Monday May 11, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The family members of Nto Obio Ifot village in Nung Oku Ibiet1, Ndot Clan, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, successfully selected Mr Aniekan Sunday Oyo as their new Family Head.
The successful selection followed the death of former family head, Chief John Udidiong, whose burial took place on April 11, 2025 in the village.
Following the successful election of Chief Aniekan Sunday Oyo, the family unanimously presented him to the Ndot Clan Family Head Forum under the Chairmanship of Obong Iboro Isaac Akpan during the monthly meeting of the forum, on April 30, 2026.
During the presentation Obong Iboro Isaac Akpan informed the gathering that it is not the responsibility of any Village Head, Clan Head or Paramount Ruler to select or appoint a family Head for the family no matter how highly placed such a Monarch may be citing the provision of the Constitution of Mbong Ekpuk in Akwa Ibom State which he directed one Obong Ezekiel John Afangama of Adiaha Obo Ikot Iton to read for the hearing of the whole house and for emphasize.
Earlier, the Octogenarian Chief Simon John Ibanga has informed the gathering that the family wanted him to be their Family Head but that since ” he has a limited day on earth by virtue of his age” , he instead chose to supervised and ensure that a peaceful election for the selection of the new family Head was conducted.
He informed the gathering that Nnung Oku Ibiet is a desperate village from Obio Ibiet ESA maintaining that there has been no time where the two communities are one or the name are used interchangeably . He further advised the people of the three families of Nnung Oku Ibiet in general to stop causing problems where none exist citing his age as an authority to back up his position.
Upon, the completion of his presentation of Obong Aniekan Sunday Oyo, the Chairman of Ndot Clan Family Head Forum requested the people of Nto Obio Ifot that supported that Obong Aniekan Sunday Oyo to be their family Head to show solidarity through raising of hands and more than 60 hands were counted.
He therefore, directed the family to present the traditional rite as is the tradition during such public presentation of a family Head to the forum. As a result drinks,and assorted items including cash were openly and officially presented and were accepted.
Also, the personal presentation of self by one small boy Nsikak Udoinyang was questioned by the people of Nto Obio Ifot who maintained that his purported claim of Nsikak Udoinyang of being a family Head of such a family is a serious insult to them because he is being sponsored by one man for his personal aggrandisement . They maintained that the father of Nsikak, Mr
Friday Udoinyang and his Elder brother John Friday Udoinyang are both alive and does not support their son allowing himself to be used to cause problems. Nsikak was therefore rejected and the items he presented to the family Head Forum was rejected and since he is a tenant in the compound of the father of one Pastor Raphael Davis Inyang, from Nto Udo family in the same Nnung Oku Ibiet, the family queried the moral authority that can justify him as a family Head stating that they cannot select a person who does not even have a house of his own or cannot even live peacefully with his parents and siblings who are still alive to be their family Head.
After his successful selection, Obong Aniekan Sunday Oyo, presented one goat, tubers of yam and other traditional rite as it is the custom of Nto Obio Ifot to the family at his residence amidst jubilation by all including women, youths and Children.
Speaking during the occasion the Youth President of Nnung Oku Ibiet who is also from the Nto Obio Ifot family Mr Emmanuel Alexandra Peter popularly known as “Emman Isanda”, advised the youth to be law abiding and apologized for his actions in the past saying that he was mislead by some ” so called elders” that now he has seen the light and he can never participate in fighting any person from the neighbouring communities particularly Obio Ibiet ESA.
Prayer was offered and all the items declared Holy for consumption and for the unity of the family of Nto Obio Ifot in particular and Nnung Oku Ibiet as a whole. Members from Nto Umoren and Not Udo families in the persons of Obong Aniefiok Okon Udoku of Nto Umoren and ,Akuku Ubong Effiong Johnson,v Edidiong Sunday Akpan Otu, the second son of the immediate past Clan head of Ndot Clan, among others graced the occasion.
