The Chairman of Etuboms’ Council of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, HRH Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok, says Etubom Anthony Ani is the legitimate Obong of Calabar and his traditional coronation will be carried out accordingly.
The traditional council’s reaction follows a statement by Emmanuel Ogbeche, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, where Governor Otu granted recognition to Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as Obong of Calabar.
However, faulting the position of the governor, the Etubom Council said it is not within the power of the governor to do so.
He insisted that the selection of the Obong of Calabar is exclusively the responsibility of tradition and has nothing to do with politics.
“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 may, like those who may want to know, know that the selection of an Obong in Efik land is exclusively the responsibility of the tradition, which has nothing to do with politics,” he said.
On the issue of waiver, he explained that the Supreme Court judgment in Suit No. SC633/2013, page 15, paragraph 1, lines 31-34 held that the Etubom Council may have the authority to grant a waiver.
He added that the Mbiabo Ikoneto Traditional Rulers Council wrote to the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council on May 19, 2023, requesting for a waiver of its candidate from the ceremonial requirement of capping and this requirement was waived by the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council at the start of the conclave on the May 22, 2023.
HRH Etubom Efiok also disclosed that, in line with the Supreme Court judgment, Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu was invited to participate in the selection process.
He said Etubom Abasi Otu refused to be part of the reselection process and in refusing to be part of it, the Council had no option other than to screen the only candidate presented by Western Calabar Traditional Rulers Council Etubom, Dr. Anthony Ani, found him qualified and proclaimed him Obong of Calabar.
He urged the State governor to reconsider his position on the matter and set up an independent and unbiased body to handle the situation.
In the alternative, he advised the Governor to submit the Supreme Court judgment to a court of competent jurisdiction to interpret the judgment for immediate implementation as the Governor lacks the power to set aside the Supreme Court judgment.
He highlighted seven key decisions of the Supreme Court contained in its judgment which are:
1) The selection and proclamation of Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong Of Calabar on 31/3/2008 be set aside.
2) That the parties should return to the drawing board.
3) That the selection process be started “afresh”.
4) That the selection should start on a clean slate.
5) That the 2002 constitution of the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council be used for the selection.
6) That the following principles be applied: natural justice, fairness and equity.
7) That it is only the Etuboms Traditional Rulers Council alone that has the power to grant the waiver.