HRM Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette was the former Paramount Ruler of Etinan Local Government Area. He was the President and crowned Uyio (Supreme Chief) of Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio, an apex body he formed in 2014 to serve as the supreme council for Ibibio traditional rulers.
His leadership was contested by rival factions; in 2016, the Mboho Afid Ibibio umbrella group declared his council fake, arguing that traditional stools are not registered trustees or commercial concerns. Despite this, Umoette remained a prominent political figure in the region, having previously been listed among those who escaped kidnapping during a 2014 security incident in Akwa Ibom State.
HRM Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette was a highly revered traditional ruler in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, who served as the Paramount Ruler of Etinan Local Government Area. He passed away at the age of 76, and his funeral ceremony was held on March 24, 2023.
He was widely respected as a principal custodian of Ibibio culture and a powerful voice in the state’s traditional institution.
Key leadership positions held
- Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs: He was sworn in by former Governor Godswill Akpabio and served as the 21st Chairman of the State traditional council from 2008 to 2009.
- President of Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio: In 2014, amid leadership frictions within the apex Ibibio traditional body (Ifim Ibom Ibibio), he was crowned as the first leader and president of Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio, a supreme council formed by several paramount rulers to safeguard the traditional heritage of the Ibibio nation.
Legacy and reputation
Edidem Umoette was frequently described by state leadership as a man of impressive character, wisdom, and a detribalized monarch who dedicated his life to promoting grassroots peace, unity, and developmental administration across Akwa Ibom State.