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A former Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Chief Anthony Ani
By Akpan David, Calabar
A former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Uganda, Chief Asuquo Nyah has told journalists that former finance minister during Sani Abacha’s military government, HRH Anthony Ani will be formally coronated as the new Obong of Calabar early week of October 2023.
He spoke when the Royal House of Ikoneto in Western Calabar paid homage to the former minister in his Calabar residence on Thursday.
Nyah said all processes are still being followed that will climax with the coronation, one of which the will be the payment of homage by the three royal houses.
Amb. Nyah said the homage was part of processes for the installation of the new Obong of Calabar.
According to him, “Different Efik houses will come to pay Chief Ani homage, starting from Ikoneto which has done theirs today. The next house that will be here on Tuesday is Ikot Offiong. Everything being equal, the Obong-elect will be visiting the Etuboms traditional council and the traditional rulers council from Obudu to Bakassi.
“In the next two months the Obong-elect will be coronated formally.”
Amb Nyah recalled that HRH Ani was elected recently following a Supreme Court judgement that was believed to have deposed the Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, as Obong of Calabar.
The former envoy said, “From my reading of the Supreme Court judgement, it said that the process should start again from 2002 and the Supreme Court also said that the people of Ikoneto should be given the opportunity because it’s their turn to choose an Obong.
“The Supreme Court also said that since Ekpo Okon has been declared not to be the Obong, and all that he did from that time till now has been nullified. People who were the Etuboms in the palace before 2008 that he was made the Obong are the ones qualified to choose the new Obong. The Chairman of the Etubom Council as at then, and the secretary sent out invitation that those who want to contest again should show interest, but the only person that showed interest was HRH Etubom Ani. So they went on and did the election. It was four against three. He has been elected. The processes now are build up to his coronation. Ekpo Okon is not in the picture at all. He has been dethroned by the Supreme Court.”
Ani Speaks
Receiving the Ikoneto royal house, Etubom Ani, said as Obong of Calabar, he will ensure the rebirth of the cultural and traditional heritage of the Efik kingdom.
He announced that new palaces will be built for all Efik deities in order to restore the traditional heritage and glory of the kingdom.
“The palace will work in partnership with the government to usher in an atmosphere where industries and job creation would thrive.”
Ani pledged to bring his wealth of experience in the public service to bear on his new role as traditional ruler to facilitate seamless economic growth and overall prosperity in the state as a whole.
He went down memory’s lane and recalled how his efforts helped to foster peace and stability in the Efik nation, regretting that in spite of the sacrifices, his Ikoneto lineage continued to suffer marginalization and opposition in ascending the Efik throne.
Chairman of the Etuboms Traditional Council in 2002, HRH Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok of the King Eyo Nsa royal house of Creek Town, also spoke during an interview with journalists shortly after the ceremony.
“The position Anthony Ani is occupying now is that of Ikoneto. If he completes it the circle will start again from Creek Town. The judgement of the Supreme Court did not disqualify Anthony Ani. The Supreme Court allowed Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu to re-contest but he refused. A memo was sent to him,” he said.
The throne of the Obong of Calabar has been a subject of endless litigations for 15 years until the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday 13 January, 2023 intervened and ordered a fresh election.
According to the apex court, the way and manner Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu was selected and proclaimed the Obong of Calabar was not in accordance with the principles of natural justice, and therefore a fresh election be held in tandem with the 2002 constitution of the Palace, in line with equity and natural justice.
Days after the Supreme Court judgement, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu was re-elected the Obong of Calabar by 13 members of the Etubom Conclaves.
However, the re-election was stiffly opposed because the Etuboms who re-elected the Obong were said not to be part of the Etubom conclave recognized in the 2002 constitution which the Supreme Court referred.
In compliance with the order of the Supreme Court, surviving members of the Etubom Council established in the 2002 constitution carried out another selection and election that saw Etubom (Dr) Anthony Ani emerging the Obong of Calabar-elect.
