The Etuboms’ Traditional Council in Cross River State yesterday said it reserved the exclusive right to select the Obong of Calabar.
It insisted that the selection of the Obong is the exclusive responsibility of the traditional council headed by Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Effiok.
The council stated that the Supreme Court, in a January 13, 2013 judgment, set aside the selection of Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar on March 31, 2008.
“This means that from 31st March 2008 to date, there is and has been no Obong of Calabar, as we are still in the selection process,” the Etuboms said.
In a statement by the Council’s Chairman, Etubom Effiok and Secretary Micah Archibong VI, the Etuboms said the judgment directed that the selection process be conducted afresh.
“The selection process can only be carried out by those who were in the Etuboms’ Council at that time and should be carried out according to the Constitution of Etuboms’ Traditional Council, 2002.
“There are only seven of us alive as of the time of the said Supreme Court judgment,” they said.
They were reacting to a statement by Governor Bassey Otu on the stool.
The statement adds: “Without fully appreciating the import of the said Supreme Court judgment, Etuboms who were not qualified to vote as of 31st March 2008 hurriedly came together and purportedly re-selected Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu on January 18, 2023. This again was an avoidable and unnecessary fundamental flaw.
“Accordingly, therefore, and in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment, we embarked on a fresh selection process.
“Unfortunately, however, Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, whose real name is Isukise and comes from Okobo, was duly recommended by the Supreme Court that he could recontest the selection.
“He refused to be part of it even though he was duly invited through the courier service to attend the exercise.
“In refusing the invitation to appear before the qualified Etuboms for screening and possible selection, we had no option than to screen the only other candidate presented to us by the Western Calabar Traditional Rulers’ Council – Etubom Dr Anthony Asuquo Ani.
“We found the said Etubom Anthony Asuquo Ani qualified, and have since selected and proclaimed him as the new Obong of Calabar.
“In compliance with the law, we notified the state government and sought permission to conduct his coronation and for his recognition by the Cross River State Government.
“It does appear that His Excellency the Governor has rejected our request and has granted explicit recognition to Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar.
“We want to state here without any ambiguity that the governor’s decision is a serious challenge to the Supreme Court judgment as it is not within his power to do so.
“Let us state here, therefore, most equivocally that our Etuboms’ Council is the one recognised by the Supreme Court judgment and Etubom Anthony Asuquo Ani is the Obong of Calabar of the Efik nation and his Traditional coronation shall be carried out accordingly.
“We will like those who may want to know that the selection of an Obong in Efik land is exclusively the responsibility of the tradition which has nothing to do with politics.
“As far as we are concerned, the only legitimate and recognised Traditional Council is the one headed by me as the chairman.
“However, if His Excellency wishes to reconsider his position in this matter, we suggest that he sets up an independent and unbiased body to handle the situation or he submits the Supreme Court’s judgment to a court of competent jurisdiction to interpret the judgment for immediate implementation as we know that His Excellency lacks the power to set aside the Supreme Court’s Judgment.”
The council said the governor’s recent statement indicates that he 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”.
The Etuboms said 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 reinforced their impression that Gov. Otu was only expressing his personal opinion.
They added: “As governor to all, we are understandably uncomfortable that His Excellency embarked on such a Judicial review and interfaced with other ‘Royal Fathers’ without any reference to us.”
According to the royal fathers, the high court case being relied on by the governor has no relevance in the matter with the Supreme Court judgment delivered except to the fact that the four respondents disobeyed the orders of Justice Ukpai A. lbitam, by voting in the so-called selection of Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong-elect of Calabar on January 18.
“In reality, the judgment of the High Court by Justice Obojor A. Ogar on the 30th of January 2012 setting aside the selection and subsequent crowning of Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu has been confirmed by both the appellate and Supreme Courts.
“We categorically state that there is absolutely no State High Court judgment delivered on this subject matter on the 25th of September, 2022.
“An error such as this is a natural consequence of the independent review embarked on by His Excellency.
“We refuse to be drawn into the tempting impression that, His Excellency the Governor, being from the same Efik family of Adiabo Principality, as Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, has anything to do with His Excellency’s conclusions; but this again goes to emphasise how unsafe it was for our Governor to embark upon this journey unassisted.”
