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By Akpan David, Calabar
A large number of Efik traditional rulers rose from a plenary meeting and condemned the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), in Cross River State which couple of days ago paid what they described as solidarity visit to Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V.
They insisted that the NUJ Exco, which ought to be neutral in all matters, have taken sides with the camp of His Eminence Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu whom they insisted was dethroned as the Obong of Calabar by the Supreme Court’s judgment of 13 January 2023.
They cautioned that such visit has put questionable marks on the union and can jeopardize relationships and efforts to select a new Obong of Calabar as ordered by the apex court.
The chairman/regent in the Efik kingdom, HRH Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok in a communique issued at the end of their meeting yesterday, 15th May 2023 which he read inside the traditional hall where it is said initial rites to install every Obong of Calabar are usually done insisted that the Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu group never complied with the Supreme Court judgment.
The Etuboms have therefore insisted that the judgment must be truly complied with and that it is only the seven surviving Etuboms as at 2008 have the authority to convoke a conclave to select a new Obong of Calabar.
They agreed that since the Supreme Court did not disqualify Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu from participating or standing for selection, he, too, could still be selected, if in the judgment of the Conclave he fulfills requirements.
According to the Communique, issued at the end bbn of their meeting on 15 May 2023, the Seven Efik traditional rulers who claimed to be the surviving ‘members of the Etuboms’ Traditional Rulers’ Council of the Palace of Obong of Calabar as of 31st March 2008′ include Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok, Etubom Micah Archibong VI, Etubom Bassey O. B. Duke and Etubom Nyong Effilm Okon JP.
Others are Etubom Cobham M. Boco, Etubom Okon E. O. Asuquo and Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu.
They have issued notice that they have started the usual traditional and native processes that would climax in the selection and affirmation of a new Obong of Calabar.
They described as illegal the reported hurried process done by another group in the palace, said to be loyal to the Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, which threw up the latter as the Obong of Calabar last January 2023, claiming they were complying with the Supreme Court judgment delivered on 13th January 2023.
Over 13 years there have been litigations and controversies over the emergence of Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu v as the Obong of Calabar. It was thought that the Supreme Court’s judgment of 13 January 2023, would end the imbroglio.
The Chairman and regent, Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok said, “We are beginning the processes of complying with that important judgement which dethroned Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar, and which ordered a fresh process to be carried out.
“The judgment orders of the Supreme Court have not been complied with as of today. Consequent upon the foregoing, we the Surviving Etuboms have in line with the judgments referred to above, resolved to end this impasse by proceeding with the process of selecting an Obong of Calabar.
“To this end, a meeting of the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council has been summoned to amongst other things call on the Western Calabar Traditional Rulers Council to forward names of qualified nominees for the revered throne of Obong of Calabar. The outcome of this process shall be made public after necessary traditional steps and procedures have been complied with. We urge all and sundry to remain peaceful and law abiding.”
He explained that in compliance with the apex court’s directive, they must start on a clean slate, and quoted part of their judgment in the communique as follows to support their action.
“…The justice of this case demands that the Western Calabar Traditional Council which was mandated to select an Etubom from amongst themselves who shall brethr 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 muddied the waters. In the circumstance, the best way to go is for the Western Council to conduct another process…”
The traditional rulers insisted that their action to select a new Obong is based on the 2002 constitution of the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council as insisted by the apex court.
Speaking on the lingering controversy, His Eminence Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, has frowned at the manner fellow Etuboms and other subjects were putting the Efik throne into disrepute and embarrassment.
While hosting the NUJ exco last week in the palace, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu expressed worries over the desecration of the revered Throne.
“This throne has been there for so many centuries and it is not something to toy with but it beats my imagination that people would just wake up and say the seat is vacant, how?
“What we have seen is a disheartening situation, but notwithstanding, you know as human beings, we expect all these things to happen.”
The monarch also decried situations where some media practitioners would, according to him, “stoop low to do the biddings of mischief makers against their statutory and invaluable role as purveyors of information for societal good.”
He cautioned journalists against fake news and succumbing to pressures to, according to him, peddle fake news.
“People look up to you for news but not fake news which has the capacity to destroy society and cause war.
“Today, there is more fake news than factual information in this country. Some reporters look at what they could make from it.
“Let Journalists be part of the Palace; let us work together so that truth and factual information on the Palace of the Obong of Calabar can be disseminated to the people.”
Speaking during the courtesy visit, chairman of NUJ in the state, Comrade Nsa Gill disowned the claims in some sections of the media which reported the alleged legitimacy of the Obong’s re-selection process.
He noted that as a core practitioner he was aware that over ten years legal tussle on the throne ended after the supreme court judgement which was duly followed by the Palace and the kingmakers in reselecting and enthroning the Obong.
He maintained that the Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu is on the throne and therefore thrthrone was not vacant.
“As a son of the kingdom with ample knowledge from covering the 15-year old litigation and wranglings, which lingered up to the apex court; I am appalled by the brazenness of mischief makers to peddle such misinformation on social media and some news blog that the throne is vacant.
“We the professionals have followed the litigation with keen interest. And are happy to see it come to an end, with the will of the people prevailing over individuality and personal interests.
“I can authoritatively say that the Obong of Calabar stool is not vacant.”
