Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu has temporarily ‘buried’ the lingering squabble that rocked the ancient throne of the Efik Kingdom over the Obong of Calabar stool for years.
Within a week, Otu swiftly doused tension by dismissing the continuous claims of former Minister of Finance, Chief Anthony Asuquo Ani to being Obong-elect.
Consequently, he directed that henceforth anybody who attempts to breach public peace by parading himself as Obong-elect when the throne is not vacant shall face the wrath of the law.
Related posts
- Obong of Calabar Returns to revered Efik Throne
- Breaking: Supreme Court ‘Sacks’ Obong of Calabar
- Obong of Calabar Blames Ayade Over Vandalism, Urges Him To Step Aside
Otu warned that such conduct would be considered and treated as being inimical to the maintenance of public peace and tranquility.
According to him, as long as the Appeal Court judgment that led to the selection and coronation of the present Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has not been nullified or vacated, any counter-claim to the throne which has been in existence for over six centuries would amount to tarring the image of the Efik Kingdom in a sacrilegious brush of conflict that is alien to Efik culture and tradition.
Arising from the State Government’s position, the Obong of Calabar Executive Forum (OCEF) has hailed the development and the subsequent dousing of tension over the spurious claim of the alleged existence of imaginary Obong-elect when the substantive Obong in the revered personality of HE Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi V is still on the throne.
The Forum described the governor’s action as a “welcome development” for restoring dignity to the Obong of Calabar as the traditional ruler and custodian of the culture of the Efik people.
The Chairman of OCEF, Chief Gershom Henshaw saw such claims as not only sacrilegious but a calculated attempt to smear the good image of the Efik people who are known for their peaceful conduct, tranquility, dignity, and unity of purpose.
Describing the governor as a proud Efik son, the forum noted that he has not only demonstrated respect for the royal throne of his forefathers but also shown that he is a crisis manager par excellence.
The Forum, therefore, pledged the Obong’s palace cooperation and support to the State government, assuring Governor Otu of its readiness to remain a dependable ally in the development and growth of the state.
BELOW IS THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE CROSS RIVER STATE GOVERNMENT ON THE TRADITIONAL STOOL OF THE OBONG OF CALABAR
The Cross River State Government frowns at the seemingly intractable dispute over the Kingship of the Efik Nation and the contention for the Stool of the Obong of Calabar since 2008.
Governor Bassey Otu notes that the stool of the Obong of Calabar is about six centuries old, steeped in the ethos of the Efiks, and revered among the few First Class Kings in Nigeria; hence the need to protect the throne from judicial, social, and political scorn.
The Governor stated that having undertaken a judicial review of the State High Court and Supreme Court rulings as well as the Constitution of the Obong’s Palace and interfaced with royal fathers, resolves as follows:
- That the issue of WAIVER for qualification of a candidate to contest the Obong Stool is untenable;
- That the stipulations of the Constitution of the Obong’s Palace in respect of the procedure for the enthronement of any Etubom as the Obong of Calabar remain sacrosanct;
iii. That in all the subsequent judgments of the appellate courts, the letter and spirit of the State High Court judgment of September 25th, 2022 has not been set aside nor its binding effect on all parties diminished;
- That all parties must ensure the implementation of the judgment cited in (iii) above to the latter;
- That His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi V remains the validly selected and elected Obong of Calabar and the Patriarch of the Efik Kingdom;
- That this official pronouncement by the State Government has granted explicit recognition to His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi V as the Obong of Calabar; and brings to final closure the speculation, acrimony, and disaffection that may have risen in the course of the tussle for this revered royal stool of the Efik Kingdom;
vii. That His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi V should as a matter of urgency and priority set up a reconciliation team, whose primary duty is to bring the hitherto two contending parties on the tussle to a single harmonious, peaceful, and progressive rulership of the Efik Kingdom.
Long live the Obong of Calabar!
Long live the Efik Kingdom!
Long live the Government of Cross River State!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Emmanuel Ogbeche
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
