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Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V with visitors in the Obong of Calabar’s palace
By Akpan David, Calabar
Another set of traditional rulers, who described themselves as legitimate kingmakers in the Efik kingdom has risen to fault the process.
They have called on Cross River Governor Ben Ayade to de-recognise Abasi Otu V and seal up the palace since his selection process did not comply with laid down procedures.
They have rejected Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar, saying “To all intents and purposes, the throne of the Obong of Calabar is yet vacant. Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu stands dethroned as the Obong of Calabar.”
This is inspite of the fact that eligible traditional rulers in Efik land had complied with the Supreme Court’s judgment of 13 January 2023 that a conclave be convoked by the kingmakers in the Obong of Calabar palace to select a new Obong or affirm the incumbent Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu v. This apex court order was complied with within specified time limit where Abasi Otu was self-proclaimed the Obong of Calabar.
According to this set of Etuboms, the said selection and proclamation of Abasi Otu was illegal and not in consonance with the principles of equity, fairness and natural justice.
In a press statement, they maintained that the dictates of the judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Appeal No: SC663/2013 – Etubom Anthony Ani & Ors v. Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu and Ors and Appeal No: SC634/2013 – Etubom Anthony Ani & Ors v. Etubom Essien Ekpeyong Efiok and Ors delivered on the 13th of January 2023, were not complied with.
The signatories to the statement who claimed to be amongst the seven legitimate Etuboms yet alive, including Chairman Central Calabar Traditional Rulers Council
and Paramount Ruler of Calabar South LGHA, HRM Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon JP, the secretary, HRH Etubom Micah Archibong VI, and HRH Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok, Chairman/Regent, took time to recall the Supreme Court judgment.
“But it is my view that the justice of this case demands that the Western Calabar Traditional Council which was mandated to select an Etubom from amongst themselves who shall be the new Obong should go back to the drawing board and start the process on a clean slate.
“This is because the way and manner in which the first respondent was selected and proclaimed as the Obong of Calabar, polluted the selection process or should we say muddied the waters so that it was no more in the process of selecting the next Obong.
“In the circumstance, the best way to go is for the Western Council to conduct another process to select an Etubom who shall be the new Obong of Calabar.”
According to the displeased Etuboms, the order of the judgment is that the selection of the new Obong has to be based on the 2002 constitution of the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council which presently has seven surviving Etuboms, including its Chairman and Secretary who are the only members who have the authority to convene any of the meetings of the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council.
The statement further noted that, “Pursuant to article 5a(i) of the 2002 Constitution of the Etuboms Council the only Etuboms who can participate in the Etuboms Conclave are we who were in the Obong’s Palace as at 31st of March 2008 as well as the following qualified Etuboms: Etubom Bassey O. B Duke, Etubom Cobham M. Boco, Etubom Okon E. O Asuquo, and Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu.
“This is so because all other persons now parading themselves as Etuboms were all not capped in line with 5a(i) of the 2002 constitution of the Etuboms Council as they were all capped by Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu who as a result of the court’s decision is deemed to never have been the Obong of Calabar.”
The traditional rulers viewed that as a result of the foregoing all acts by Ekpo Abasi during the period in which he occupied the throne are seen as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
They said “It is quite laughable that those who selected and illegally capped by Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu are now the ones sitting down to select and proclaim him without any meeting called by the Western Calabar Traditional Rulers Council to deliberate on the matter.
“On the 20th of January 2023 we, the legitimate Etuboms, had cause to write a petition to the Governor of Cross River State, H.E Prof. Ben Ayade who as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Security Officer and a principal law officer of the state is constitutionally bound to ensure that all laws and judgments of the courts are implemented and complied with to the letter and spirit of the law. In the said petition we stated as follows;
“That in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the foregoing facts provided above, that His Excellency refused to recognize the purported selection and proclamation of Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as Obong-elect as same was carried out by persons not qualified to do so.
“That in light of the Supreme Court decision cause to be announced the takeover of the administration of the Obong’s Palace by HRH Etubom Essien Ekpeyong Efiok as Chairman of the Etuboms’ Council so as to ensure an unbiased process of selecting a new Obong of Calabar in accordance with the letter and spirit of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“That His Excellency also caused to be announced the reinstatement of HRH Etubom Micah Archibong VI as secretary of the Etuboms’ Council, a position he hitherto occupied as at 31st March 2008.
“That His Excellency directs the Commissioner of Police and Heads of other security agencies in the state to seal off the palace of the Obong of Calabar, allowing only those authorized to enter unto the premises to do so.”
They promised to provide every necessary assistance required to carry out the task as set out by the judgment of the Supreme Court so as to lay to rest finally this issue and bring lasting peace and healing to the Efik Kingdom.
According to the traditional rulers, they believe that if the authorities carried out these actions, the resort to self-help and the many alleged illegalities perpetrated would be arrested.
They also pledged that the qualified Etuboms and kingmakers would call all parties to a roundtable where a decision will be made that will bring lasting peace, progress and development.
