•Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V
Following the Supreme Court Judgment and subsequent affirmation by the Governor of Cross River State, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, yesterday, announced an Independent Truth and Reconciliation Committee to address the longstanding dispute over the throne of the revered Obong of Calabar.
The seven-man committee has retired Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Michael Edem as Chairman and former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Effiok Cobham; former commissioner, university professor and consultant,
High Chief, Professor Eyo Etim Nyong as members.
Others include former commissioner and seasoned administrator, Mrs. Rosemary Effiom Archibong, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Ene Okon; Rev Dr Ubong Eyo of the Presbyterian Church and Reverend Father Emmanuel Orok Duke of the Catholic Church as members.
And the committee’s primary duty is to address the longstanding dispute over the throne of the revered Obong of Calabar, reports The Guardian.
A press statement by the Secretary, Etuboms’ Traditional Council, Etinyin Ekpo ó Archibong, on behalf of the Palace of Obong of Calabar, said the committee is expected to operate independently, impartially and with utmost integrity, respecting the culture and traditions of the Efik people.
The reconciliation committee is to establish the truth and facilitate reconciliation between the parties involved in the Obong of Calabar succession dispute.
It was not mandated to carry out a judicial review of the judgment of the Supreme Court adjudicate on the dispute. In another development, a faction of the Etubom Traditional Rulers Council, led by former Finance Minister, Etubom Anthony Ani, has urged the Cross River State government to set up an independent and unbiased body to look into the disputed Efik throne.
The group maintained that rather than taking hasty decision without recourse to a subsisting judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the matter, it is high time state government sought for interpretation of the Supreme Court judgement to settle the tussle over who is the authentic Efik King.
Addressing journalists alongside other members of the council in Calabar, yesterday, the factional chairman, Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok, said the government’s recognition of Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu as the Obong of Calabar was nothing but a reflection of the personal position of the state governor, Prince Bassey Otu.
Recall that the state government had in a press statement, titled, “the official position of the Cross River State government on the traditional stool of the Obong of Calabar,’ and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, affirmed HRM Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu as the Obong of Calabar.’
However, Essien Ekpenyong Efiok, who is of the Etubom Anthony Ani-led faction, argued that the statement indicates that the governor has 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.
“Not being aware of any panel of judicial or administrative review, not having been invited to appear or testify before any such body and as ‘royal fathers’ not having had any interface with the governor on the matter only goes to reinforce our impression that this is the personal position of the governor.
“As governor to all, we are understandably uncomfortable that the governor embarked on such a Judicial review and interfaced with other “royal fathers” without any reference to us.”
