At last, the controversy surrounding the rightful occupant of the stool of Obong of Calabar has been settled: the man is His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi V, says the state Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu.
In a declarative statement devoid of sentiments, the governor said through his chief press secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche on Tuesday night, that the government recognises Okon Abasi V as the properly enthroned Obong of Calabar and warned all interlopers, including a former minister of finance, Anthony Ani, to stop further bickering.
The full statement read: “The Cross River State Government frowns at the seeming 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 judgements 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 later;
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 reconciliation team, which 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.”
Hon, Sen, Pst Bill Francis Bill Spokesperson to Governor Prince Otu and Ceo Billionaire Bill media Team and Blog.