THE Efik Kingdom is once again in crisis over the revered stool of the Obong of Calabar, which is more than 500years old. The stool, a symbol of authority, unity, love and peace is today something else. Because of deceit, selfish interest, greed and state power, the aura, mystique, authority and colour associated with the throne is gradually being eroded.To restore the dignity of the throne and put to an end the unnecessary tussle and bad blood that is often associated with the selection of a new Obong, a State Government's white paper put in place the famous Creek Town Accord of 1970. This accord adopted the alternate rotation of the Obongship of Calabar between Western and Central Calabar.Western Calabar comprises Creek Town, Adiabo and Ikoneto while Central Calabar comprises Henshaw town, Cobham Town, Duke Town, Old Town and their tributaries.The accord which has been in operation for 30years has been the basis for the selection of the five Obongs of Calabar so far ' Edidem David James Henshaw V - Central Calabar) (Henshaw Town-1970-1972); Edidem Essien Ekpe Oku V - Western Calabar (Creek Town) -1972-1982; Edidem Bassey Eyo Ephraim Adam III'Central Calabar (Duke Town) -1982-1987; Edidem Otu Ekpenyong Efa IX ' Western Calabar (Adiabo) 1987-1989; and Edidem Boco Ene Mkpang Cobham Central Calabar (Cobham- town) 1989-1999.TODAY that accord has been breached. It was first breached in 1999 following the passing on of Edidem Cobham otherwise known as 'Udot'. It was the turn of Western Calabar to produce the next Obong but after some infightings and bickering among the people of Western Calabar and Central, Edidem Nta Elijah Henshaw I in the wee hours of August 31, 1999, was capped traditionally at the Efe Asabo (Efik kingship Shrine) in Nsidung, Old Calabar by the Chief Priest then, Etubom Bassey Ekpo Bassey. This action drew the wrath of the government which felt that it was the turn of Western Calabar to produce an Obong.Ultimately a Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Dorathy Eyamba-Idem was on December 14,1999 set-up by the then government of Mr. Donald Duke.At the end of the inquiry, a government white paper (official document No.2 of 2000) took far reaching decisions and specifically observed that 'out of the 3 basic Efik towns or settlements that make up Western Calabar, two (Creek Town and Adiabo) had produced Obongs of Calabar while Ikoneto was yet to produce an Obong'.It further states that, 'in spite of the fact that Ikoneto cannot or did not produce a candidate for the Obongship, or that at the material time the Mbiabo Ikoneto's seat at the Etubom's Traditional Council is vacant, does not confer any right on any house in Central Calabar to produce a candidate for the Obong of Calabar. If this was done, it would not only run counter to the dictate of the Accord but would negate the entire spirit behind the agreement, and render its makers, being all the Houses, a laughable and abused group'.This is the crux of the matter.In 2008 this accord was breached again for the second time. By the government white paper, Creek Town and Adiabo were out of the game and the Cross River State Government has been called upon to respect its white paper and restore dignity to the Efik throne.Since the 1999 to 2008 crisis period, the Efik kingdom is once again back to square one. The government white paper of the year 2000 and the letter from the office of the special Adviser to the Governor Chief Eddy Agbe dated October 15, 2001 maintained that 'at the next turn for a candidate to be presented for the Obongship, first option shall be given to Western Calabar in accordance with the 1970 accord and in consonance with the provision of the Efik constitution on the selection of the Obong of Calabar and Grand patriarch of the Efiks'.So when this position became vacant again following the traditional ill health of Edidem Henshaw, the people of Mbiabo-Ikoneto presented former Minister of Finance, Etubom Anthony Ani Eniang Offiong as their candidate for the royal stool of the Obong of Calabar to the Efik Iboku Esit Edik Traditional Council chaired by then Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu on March 15, 2008. The then Chairman of the Etubom Traditonal Council Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok among other Etuboms and chiefs were present.Accordingly, Etubom Anthony Ani was screened and inducted into the Iboku Esit Edik Traditional Council of Western Calabar by Etubom Otu (the deposed Obong) who declared, 'Now you are the Etubom of Ikot Mkpor. Take this staff of office and rule your family well'. Etubom Ani took over from his elder brother Etinyin Okon Effiong Offiong, who formerly handed it over to him to continue due to his (Offiong) ill health.To further confirm the position of Ikoneto to the throne, the Efik Iboku Esit Edik Traditonal Council chaired by Etubom Otu on March 13, 2008 wrote to all the Etuboms in the council including Etubom Ani informing them of the decision of the council cancelling all previous decisions reached regarding the selection of an Obong and allowing Ikoneto the exclusive right to produce a candidate for the Obongship. The letter was written in Efik language and signed by the Secretary Chief Essien Ekpenyong.On March 18 the Iboku Esit Edik Traditional Council invited Etubom Ani for screening as a candidate for the Obongship stool and on March 19, he was duly screened.Surprisingly, same Iboku Esit Edik Traditional Council summoned a meeting on March 26 where the Chairman of the Etubom Traditional Council, Etubom Efiok from Creek Town and the Chairman of the Iboku Esit Edik Traditional council, Etubom Otu of Adiabo were to be screened for the stool of the Obong of Calabar despite the council's earlier letter reserving the position to Mbiabo Ikoneto in accordance with the government white paper where Etubom Ani comes from.Etubom Ani objected this on grounds that it was the exclusive turn of Ikoneto to present a candidate for Obongship but was assured by Etubom Otu Efa Otu that the two Etuboms mentioned were merely screened as reserve candidate.After the induction of Etubom Ani into the Iboku Esit Edik Traditional Council, he was supposed to be presented to the Etuboms conclave of the palace of the Obong of Calabar but this was not done even when a letter was written to that effect.In a shocking development, it was alleged that the Chairman of Council, Etubom Otu and the Vice Chairman Etubom Efa Otu without the consent of the principal officers of the council forwarded the result of the screening to the ETC thus eliminating the candidature of Etubom Ani.ON March 31, 2008, the Etuboms Traditional Council after tactfully preventing other Etuboms from participating on grounds that they were either expelled, suspended or not from the ruling houses proceeded to select Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar elect. Other Etuboms and ruling Houses faulted the selection of Etubom Otu.The former Chairman of the Etubom Traditional Council, Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok countered above position in a press conference then saying 'the Etuboms' conclave which is charged with the responsibility of selecting and installation of the Obong of Calabar had met on Monday, 31st March, 2008 and duly selected His Royal Highness, Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar following the traditional illness of the late Obong, Edidem Henshaw VI'.Efiok said, 'the Etubom seated here are the King makers; it is from one of us that a King is enthroned. There is no way you can play magic. It has never happened and will never. The kingship is not for sale and cannot be bought. It is only within the Etubom seated here that Obong can emerge and an Etubom must be an agnate descendant of that family. Then he will be presented to the Obong and must be attending meetings for 3 years.'On the exclusion of Etubom Ani, Efiok argued that 'Etubomship in a family is for life. If you transfer; that is your family business. If we are to follow tradition, until the Etubom dies, you cannot enthrone a new one. The issue of Ani, the man you mentioned had never come to this palace. This conclave is not aware that he (Offiong) handed over his position to another person. His (Ani) House suppose to do that. Even at that he has to be screened to see if he is qualified and if he accepted has to be here for two years and we have not stopped Ikoneto from producing an Obong'.In view of this confusing state of affairs, Etubom Ani and four others had in April 2008 sued Edidem Otu and seven others challenging the verdict of the Etuboms' Council in the selection and proclamation of Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V as the Obong of Calabar..Etubom Ani had in his claim and submission by his counsel Mr Agi, sort a declaration that 'the presentation and/selection of the 4th defendant (Edidem Otu) who was Chairman of the screening committee for the selection of the 4th Defendants as the Obong of Calabar elect is contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience.'That the purported selection of the 4thDefendant as the the Obong of Calabar-elect, who is from Adiabo is contrary to the decision of the Western Calabar Traditional Rulers Council that Ikoneto has the exclusive right to produce the next Obong of Calabar and the 4thDefendant is not qualified to be selected and/ or appointed the Obong of Calabar'.He also sought a declaration that the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council of the Obong's Palace refusal to entertain the complaint of the Plaintiff violates their right to fair hearing and an injunction restraining the government from according recognition and/ or giving staff of office to the 4th defendant.But Edidem Otu and Etubom Efiok through their counsel, Mr. Ukpong Eba submitted that the Ufok Ikot Nkpor, Ani and the claimants lacked the locus standi to bring this action.They charged the court to determine, 'whether the Ufok Ikot Nkpor of Ikoneto, and'other claimants herein have the locus standi to bring or initiate this action, not being represented by an Etubom in the Etuboms Council, Palace of the Obong of Calabar nor not being Etuboms in the Etuboms Traditional Council of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar.'Relating the above position of the law to the facts of the present case it is submitted that the Claimants herein whether for themselves or on behalf of Ufok Ikot Nkpor Clan of Mbiabo Ikoneto, are not members of, or Etuboms in the Etuboms Traditional Council of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, who have the legal right to either contest, select and or proclaim a candidate for the Stool of the Obong of Calabar. Mbiabo Ikoneto Ruling House comprising Ufok Ikot Ani and Ufok Ikot Nkpor is already represented in the Etuboms Traditional Council of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar by Etubom (Lt. Cdr.) Eniang Nkpor Ansa Ani-Ita, who was capped by the Late Edidem (Professor) Nta Elijah Henshaw VI'.They further submitted that 'the Stool held by Etubom (Lt. Cmdr.) Eniang Nkpor Nsa Ani-Ita (rtd.) from Mbiabo Ikoneto Ruling House in Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar is for life and not transferable. Therefore, for as long as he occupies the Stool, no other Etubom can be admitted into the Etuboms Council from Mbiabo Ikoneto Ruling House.'The long standing tradition and convention of the Efik people is to the effect that, to aspire to the throne of the Obong of Calabar, the potential candidate must be an Etubom in the Etuboms Traditional Council in the Palace of the Obong of Calabar. By the said tradition, to become an Etubom in the Etuboms Traditional Council, the person must have been nominated by his Ruling House and presented to the Etuboms Traditional Council for screening, induction and capping by the reigning Obong of Calabar.'This position is in consonance with the Government White Paper on the Views of the Cross River State Government on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Crisis for the Selection of Obong of Calabar and Paramount Ruler of the Efiks, referred to as Official Document No. 2, 2000. Section 10(xiii) of the said White Paper provides as follows:- ''no Etubom should be admitted into the Etuboms Traditional Council when an Obong of Calabar is not physically present in Council to admit him'''It is our most respectful submission that, there is no where in the Claimant's (Ani) Statement of Claim herein at which it was stated that the 1st Claimant was inducted and capped as an Etubom in the Etuboms Traditional Council by a reigning Obong of Calabar as recommended by the said White Paper, which would have made him eligible to contest for the Stool of the Obong of Calabar.'Therefore, Ufok Ikot Nkpor of Mbiabo Ikoneto Ruling House represented by Ani and others having not satisfied the Traditional and Conventional prerequisite of becoming an Etubom in the Etuboms Traditional Council in the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, it is submitted that they have no legal right to protect as their basis for their present action in this Honourable Court'.They submitted that ' it is our most humble submission that, the 1st Claimant (Ani) can best be described as an Etubom-elect, as having been so selected by his Ruling House, he is yet to be presented for screening, induction and capping by the reigning Obong of Calabar into the Etuboms Traditional Council in the Palace of the Obong of Calabar'.Counsel to Edidem Otu, Chief Ladi Williams, who was represented by Miss Rebecca Tanga, in his submission, asked the court to dismiss the applicant's claims, saying 'that he was not qualified to be Obong of Calabar.' He went on to say that the applicant was given fair hearing in the process of selection of the Obong of Calabar.HOWEVER, after about four years of legal tussle, Etubom Otu V was on January 30 dethroned by the High Court in Calabar.In nearly two hours judgement, Justice Obojor Ogar restrained the Edidem Otu from parading himself as the Obong of Calabar until proper election has been done and also restrained the Etubom Traditional Council (ETC) from excluding Etubom Anthony Ani and Mbiabo Ikoneto from any election or selection of an Obong.Justice Ogar ruled that, any election or selection of an Obong of Calabar without the participation of Etubom Ani and Mbiabo Ikoneto is null and avoid and therefore restrained the ETC from doing that.He also granted an injunction restraining 'the Obong of Calabar from parading himself as the Obong until proper election has been done' that Etubom Otu is not qualified to be selected and/or appointed the Obong of Calabar and accordingly his purported selection/screening/election and appointment as Obong of Calabar is hereby set aside. The 4th defendant (Otu) is hereby restrained either by himself, his servant, agents or privies from representing or further presenting himself to the general public as Obong of Calabar'.Counsel to the ETC, Mr. Eba insist that Otu is still the Obong and they will study the judgement to go for appeal. We are trying to study the judgement but unfortunately the government that earlier issued certificate of recognition; the judgement has not made any positive order to the government to withdraw the certificate so the Obong is still on the throne'.He described the judgement as 'a declaration judgement that Ikoneto has right to contest. Definitely we are going on appeal to determine some issues raised by the Judge'.Counsel to Etubom Ani, Mr. Bassey Offiong who represented the lead Counsel Mr. Agi, SAN, expressed satisfaction with the judgement saying the court also granted all the five prayers Etubom Ani sought for as stated above and 'by implication the Obong has been dethroned because if the court said you cannot parade yourself as what you claim to be because you got it by fraud, it means you have been dethroned'.'We are satisfied with the judgment and on the issue of certificate of recognition, 'is it the government that installs an Obong. The government acted on certain papers that were presented to it to issue a certificate. So if the court has not specifically said the certificate is withdrawn, it is obvious that it is withdrawn. You cannot carry a paper that has no weight. The certificate of recognition given by the government is of no moment, in fact it is worse than a piece of paper because it was based on fraud'.ON February 7, tussle for the Efik throne took a different twist as the ETC in a spiritual moves suspected to be fetish submitted a letter to the Calabar High Court on their latest position on the Obongship crisis.With a small virgin boy of about seven carrying a basket with a weaved raffia around it and the result of the said fresh election inside it, they marched accompanied by masquerades to the court to submit their document informing the court that they had complied with its directives.The protesting group gathered outside the gate of the court with the Chief Priest invoking some powers and the spirit of the dead to intervene in the Obongship tussle.After all the spiritual ceremonies, the letter was submitted to one of the officials of the court by the Chairman of the ETC, accompanied by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and few others for further action.The Chairman of the ETC Etubom, Bob Duke, who led the protest group said, 'this morning we went to court because we are very law-abiding. The court had ordered that we should hold another conclave, and make sure that Chief Tony Ani is included in that selection; the outcome of that selection saw the incumbent Obong emerging as the new Obong with 15 votes of all the conclave members'.On the issue of Ikoneto as directed by the court, he said, 'it is the turn of Western Calabar and Ikoneto in particular. Western Calabar include Creek-Town, Adiabo, Ikot Offiong, Edere among others'.A prominent son of the state and Managing Director of Tinapa Mr. Bassey Ndem threw more light on their mission to the court, saying, 'even though the Judge may not have had all the facts available, to him, but being a law abiding nation, we should comply. To the best of their ability, they have complied and having complied it is only natural that they should inform the court that they have complied'. Following this latest moves by the ETC, Ani on February 8, sued the deposed Obong of Calabar and four orders for contempt. Through his counsel Mr. Agi (SAN), Ani filed 'Form 48, Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court'.The contempt notice dated February 8, 2012 and signed by the Registrar of the Court, Mr. Paulinus Ekawu, reads, 'unless you obey the order of Honourable Justice Obojor Ogar made on the 30thday of January, 2012, attached hereto, you shall be guilty of contempt of court and shall be liable to be committed to prison'.Uneasy calm now pervades the city of Calabar as both sides are battling to outdo each other and; it is expected that very soon they will abandon the shrines and go back to the courts for clarification and appeal. The State government is quiet on the matter even though some persons have accused it of blowing hot and cold behind the scene.
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