We live in exciting times and the wind of change is blowing ever so mightily. I'm sure you'd be impressed with the effort of our Akwa Ibom brethren in diaspora. Aluta continua !

NDITO AKWA IBOM IN DIASPORA WRITE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT, ITS LEADERS, YOUTHS, AND THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF AKWA IBOM STATE OF NIGERIA
May 24, 2001
To:
His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo
Head of State
Federal Government of Nigeria
Aso Rock, Abuja, Nigeria.
Honorable Chief Anyim Pius Anyim,
The President
Federal House of Senate
Abuja, Nigeria
Honorable Alhaji Ghali Umah Na-Abba
The Speaker
Federal House of Representatives
Abuja, Nigeria
His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah
The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State
Government House
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Nigeria
Honorable Chief Nduese Essien
Chairman South South Caucus
Federal House of Representatives
Abuja, Nigeria
Honorable Chief Bassey Essien
The Speaker
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Nigeria
Honorable Members
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Nigeria
For the second time in the annals of our oppressed history, our leaders, our government, and our youths have spoken with one voice against years of institutional oppression and injustice. The first one occurred in the 1950s when they became the first
group in Nigeria to demand for the creation of states (COR State). Today, they have with one voice put the oppressors on notice. Continuing business as usual can only perpetuate the gradual human extinction that has been the hallmark in our state.
MARGINALIZATION:
Our oppressors do not lack reasons to lock us out and bury us alive. When seeking admission into higher institutions, we are told, in their words, "Akwa Ibom is an educationally advantaged state." Hence, the bar is raised much higher to keep us out. When seeking employment, the excuse becomes, "You do not have qualified people", now a familiar phrase used by Exxon-Mobil, formerly known as Mobil Producing Nigeria.
The double standard orchestrated by Mobil is mind boggling. In an attempt to promote minority participation in the United States, Mobil made Paul L. Caldwell, Jr., an African-American, the Chairman/Managing Director of Mobil Producing in Nigeria. But Mobil's hiring policy in Nigeria, having been immersed in Nigeria's ethnic intrigues is, tragically, a complete reverse.
Therefore, we the people of Akwa Ibom State in the Diaspora wish to state as follows:
„h That we join our brothers at home in denouncing this systematic injustice and oppression. We, therefore, express our unconditional support to our leaders and the youths by their bold steps meant to finally stamp out this inhumane treatment, starting with the Exxon-Mobil in our own very soil, Akwa Ibom State.

„h That we join our leaders in calling on Mobil to, as a matter of urgency, move its administrative headquarters from Lagos to Akwa Ibom where its operational base is located.
„h That we call on Mobil to review its Statement of General Business Principles, its Environmental Policies, and International Business Practices that govern all the multinational corporations, including Mobil.
„h That Mobil should establish and implement Corporate Social Responsibility of including "qualified" host community members in its top management structure as it practices in China, Europe, North and South America, and Angola.
RESOURCE CONTROL:
On the control of our resources, onshore and offshore, we take this as the essence and the soul of our existence in a corporate Nigeria. We stand solidly behind our Governor Obong Victor Attah in the pursuit of this goal. Resource control is an inalienable right as contained in the United Nations Declaration on Rights in the General Assembly Resolution 41/128 of December 1986 which states: "The human right to development also implies the full realization of the right of people to self determination, which includes the exercise of their inalienable right to full sovereignty over all their natural wealth and resources." Hence, the scripture has been quite unequivocal when it says, "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar¡¦s."
It should be mentioned here that the on-shore/ off-shore oil dichotomy was abolished by Decree No. 106, now Act of 1992, Section 6 (3)" which states: "For the purpose of sub-section (2) of this Section and for the avoidance of any doubt, the distinction hitherto made between On-shore oil and offshore oil mineral revenue for the purpose of revenue sharing and the administration of the fund for the development of the oil mineral producing areas is hereby abolished".
For our "democracy" known to be embedded in ethnic politics to opt for court action as a way to "win" rather than opt for negotiation with the indigenous populations is a tragedy at best. This is so because court actions do not necessarily win peace since the judges are also a part of the larger society with individual ethnic affiliations. It was in the realization of this that the president opted not to take the Sharia issue to the Supreme Court for "interpretation".
The veiled threats of war by our brothers of northern extraction over our resources is nothing but blackmail. We realize that this is going to be a "struggle". It may be a moral one or it may be a physical one. But it is going to be a struggle. In the words of Frederick Douglas, "Power concedes nothing without a demand. The limit of oppression is determined by the extent of the endurance of the oppressed." And we strongly believe that that limit has been reached.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE:
It is an open secret that Nigeria is a country made up of hundreds of ethnic nationalities characterized with insurmountable conflict of interests: religious, cultural, social, ethnic, economic, and what have you. We join all well-meaning Nigerians in calling for a national conference where all the ethnic nationalities can sit down and dialogue on these and other thorny issues affecting them. It is now abundantly clear that we can only continue to ignore and delay this to our peril.

SIGNED:
1. Tom E. Mbeke-Ekanem, Los Angeles, California, USA
2. IBOM PEOPLES CONGRESS, USA
3. Nigerian Democratic Action Committee (NDAC), USA, Inc.
4. Sam N. Udofia, President NDAC, Washington DC, USA
5. Reverend Edemekong S. Ekong, London, England
6. Sylvanus Akpakpa, President Akwa Ibom State National Assoc. USA, Inc.
7. Coalition of Petroleum Producing States of Nigeria (COPPSON), USA. Inc.
8. Mrs. Catherine Udi, President Akwa Ibom Assoc., Los Angeles, CA, USA
9. Ibibio Community, Inc., Washington DC, USA
10. Otuekong Uwan, Moutain View, California, USA
11. Patrick Essien, Portland, Oregon, USA
12. Ekerete Peter Ubom, Sydney, Australia
13. Akwa Ibom Association of Professional Engineers, USA
14. Akwa Ibom State National Association, USA, Inc.
15. Mboho Akwa Ibom State, United Kingdom/Ireland
16. Ita I. Etuk, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
17. Stella Etuk, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
18. Akwa Ibom State Associations in the Americas/Caribbean
19. Imeh Japhet Akpan, Houston, Texas, USA
20. Augustine T. Ekwere, Somerset, New Jersey, USA
21. Uwem A. Usoro, Seattle, Washington, USA
22. Peter U. Umana, Los Angeles, California, USA
23. Ruth Umana, Fremont, California, USA
24. Tim Umana, Fremont, California, USA
25. Professor Cosmas Etim, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
26. Professor Solomon Obotetukudo, Clarion, PA, USA
27. Prince Uwemedimoh E. A. U. Ntekpere, Vancouver, WA, USA
28. Ibanga Ekpo, Houston, Texas, USA
29. Eno Henry Effiong, Dallas, Texas, USA
30 Udeme Samuel Udo, London, England
31. Patience Samuel Udo, London, England
32. Akanimo Akpan, New York City, New York, USA
33. Wilson Emah Bassey, Burbank, CA, USA
34. Ita Udosen, MD, MRIPH (London), Houston, Texas, USA
35. FOVAN Organization, Houston, TX, USA
36. Reverend Ezekiel Ette, Portland, Oregon, USA
37. Ime O. Udombang, Lithia Springs, Georgia, USA
38. Usua F. Udodiong, Traverse City, Michigan, USA
39. Dr. Sunday Bassey, Weatherford, Oklahoma, USA
40. Vanessa M. Bassey, Weatherford, Oklahoma, USA
41. Ekanem E. Effiong, Richmond, Virginia, USA
42. Professor Etim Ubong, PhD, Flint, Michigan, USA
43. U. B. Umoren, Hollywood, California, USA
44. Friends of Nigerian American Democratic Society, USA
45. Effiong E. Okon, Sr., Beaverton, Oregon, USA
46. Professor John J. Okon, Marist College, New York, USA
47. Effiong E. Essien, Chicago, Illinois, USA
48. Eseme K. Nquot, Bell Garden, California, USA
49. Christopher Okpon, Rangely, Colorado, USA
50. Ndanyongmong H. Ibanga, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
51. Gabriel Effiong Rumould, Los Angeles, CA, USA
52. Mark Etukudo, Los Angeles, California, USA
53. Lawrence Afaha, Orange, California, USA
54. Ita James, Chino, California, USA
55. Benedict Akpan, Washington DC, USA
56. Obong Hon. Cyril M. Ekiko, Houston, Texas, USA
57. Dr. Stanley Eno Ekiko, Denver, Colorado, USA
58. Charles Etukudo, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
59. Vincent Akpan, Grand Rapid, Michigan, USA
60. Caroline Akpan, Grand Rapid, Michigan, USA
61. Imeh William, Lawrence, Kentucky, USA
62. Ukpong Asukwo, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
63. Ibanga Sampson Akaninyene, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
64. Effiong Udosen, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
65. Dr. Etim J. Udoh, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
66. Asukwo E. Asukwo, Sedgwick, Kansas, USA
67. Fidelis Ekong, Corona, California, USA
68. Godwin Edukere, Pomona, California, USA
69. George Inyang, Los Angeles, California, USA
70. Justice Edem, Chino Hills, California, USA
71. Peter Akpabio, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA
72. Enobong Ndem-Ogwa, Kingston, Jamaica
73. Etim Etim, Fontana, California, USA
74. Dr. Magnus O. Bassey, New York, New York, USA
75. Daniel Ekong, Auburn, Alabama, USA
76. George A. Ekpo, Beaumont, TX, USA
77. Itallica Obott, Hollywood, California, USA
78. Eno-Obong Ekong, Chicago, Illinois, USA
79. League of Patriotic Nigerians, USA, Inc.
80. Philip Philip - Secretary NDAC, Washington DC, USA
81. Bassey Umoh, Houston, Texas, USA
82. Itoro Ekarika, Denver, Colorado, USA
83. Chief Mike Ukpong, Obong Ibibio, Washington DC, USA
84. Daniel Ekong, Auburn, Alabama, USA
85. A. Udokakah, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
86. Bernard Bassey, Garland Texas, USA
87. R. Bryce, Plano, Texas, USA
88. B. Usanga, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
89. Dr. Ekong, Delaware, USA
90. Dr. V. Ubom, Detroit, Michigan, USA
91. Dr. I. Affiah, Columbia, Tennesse, USA
92. Celestine Akpan, St. Paul, Minesota, USA
93. Linus Akpan, Minneapolis, Minesota, USA
94. Joseph Daniel, Tyler, Texas, USA
95. James Umanah, Tyler, Texas, USA
96. Dr. Anthony Ekong, Boston, MA. USA
97. James Umoh, Lewisville, Texas, USA
98 Dr. P. Usoroh, Warren, Michigan, USA
99. J. Usanga, Richardson, Texas, USA
100. John David Ekpenyong, Toronto, Canada
101. Itoro Akpan-Iquot, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
102. AKWA IBOM FORUM, USA
103. Sunday Edemeka, Los Angeles, California, USA
104. Udoekpo N. Ekpo, Fontana, California, USA
105. Joy N. Ekpo, Fontana, California, USA
106. Dr. Augustine O. Asuquo, Los Angeles, California, USA
107. Israel Bassey, Los Angeles, California, USA
108. Moses Edem, Los Angeles, California, USA
109. Joseph Udi, Los Angeles, California, USA
110. Imo Ekpo, West Covina, California, USA
111. Uwem Sam, Los Angeles, California, USA
112. Rita Ekpo, West Covina, California, USA
113. Joseph Ukpong, Los Angeles, California, USA
114. Margarete Etuk, Los Angeles, California, USA
115. Dr. Effiong Ibok, San Francisco, California, USA
116. Eno Robinson Adams, San Francisco, California, USA
117. Nigerian Democratic Action Committee, USA, Inc.
118. Umoetuk Udo, Pres. Akwa Ibom Assoc., San Francisco, CA, USA
119. P. Ekerette Udo Umoh, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
120. US Outreach International (USA), Inc., Beaverton, OR, USA
121. Saviour Essien, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
122. Idongesit Essien , Beaverton , Oregon , USA
123. Dominic Ikotidem, Laurel, MD, USA
124. Ibiom Ikotidem, Laurel, MD, USA
125. Mike Essien, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
126. Tony Afia, Los Angeles, California, USA
127. Dr. Christopher Ekong, Los Angeles, California, USA
128. Uwem Akpabio, Los Angeles, California, USA
129. Dr. Effi A. Ntekim, San Diego, California, USA
130. Wilson Inyang, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
131. Komene Famaa, MOSOP-Italia, Rome, Italy
132. Legborsi Famaa, Ogoni Voice, Dublin, Ireland
133. Bassey Ndem, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
134. Daniel Ekong, Auburn, Alabama, USA
135. Godwin Ekanem, Los Angeles, California, USA
136. Sunday O. Udoffia, San Jose, California, USA
137. Agnes J. Umana, Fremont, California, USA
138. Uduak O. Udoffia, San Jose, California, USA
139. Ekanem O. Udoffia, San Jose, California, USA
140. Udoffia O. Udoffia, San Jose, California, USA
141. Lewis T. Williams, Enugu, Nigeria
142. Eno U. Ubokudom, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
143. Elizabeth Essien, Albany, New York, USA
144. Emmanuel Akpan, President Akwa Ibom Assoc., Dallas, TX, USA
145. Dr. Bassey Essien, Albany, New York, USA
146. Orince Emmanuel Adams, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
147. African-American Education and Legal Defense Funds, Inc. Miami, Fl, USA
148. Lawrence Nduonyi, London, England
149. Eno Uki, Washington DC, USA
150. Ekaete S. Ubom, Sydney, Australia
151. Anietie Edohoukwa , Dallas, Texas, USA
152. Daniel Edem, Los Angeles, California, USA
153. Dr. Elijah Akpan, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
154. Dr. Offiong Aqua, Yonkers, New York, USA

I'm surprised you aren't seeing what I'm seeing. This letter is a terrific start:

1) circa 150 signatories
2) no beating about the bush
3) expressed solidarity to the home front
4) Aremu & friends cannot say they weren't told if they now escalate the issue to the global bodies where it ultimately belongs.