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| The Obong Of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu. |
Asuquo Cletus Felix | 18th January 2023
As several controversies continue to trail the recent Supreme Court judgment regarding the Obong of Calabar stool with several interpretations to the judgement, a sociocultural group, made up of young men from Efik, Efut, Abakpa and Okoyong, identified as Nka Ekondo Efak Inang, has paid a solidarity visit to the Obong Of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu.
According to the leadership of the group, the essence of the visit is to let the monarch know that youths from the four major ancestral blocs that makes up the throne are with him in this moments of seemingly trial as they will stand with him to defend the throne.
Speaking on the floor of the Palace, Chief Charles Offiong Obo, pioneer president and founder of the group appreciated the Obong and members of the Etubom Traditional Council for their steadfastness in keeping the Kingdom together, stating that as sons of the kingdom they weren't perturbed during the court processes knowing too well that it was impossible to dethrone a sitting Obong.
"I most sincerely thank his eminence and his council for their steadfastness to keep the kingdom together up till date. Barely 72 hours ago the entire social media was agog with conflicting narrative based on the reports we heard.
"We the Efiks, Efuts and the Quas who know what our tradition and custom is, we knew that there are certain things that cannot happen. We keep telling people that some things can never happen." He said.
The group also pledged their total support and loyalty to the Obong, noting that as a group made up of diverse professionals they will defend the kingdom at all cost and were ready to work with the Obong.
"We are an agglomeration of people of diverse professions Carpenters, Doctors, Masons, Engineers, we have everything...
...we are here on a solidarity visit, we are here as youths to tell you not to be deterred we're there. Whenever you want us, wherever you want us, however, you want us, just beckon, we are there." He added.
It should be recalled that the Supreme Court, in a five-man panel had dismissed the appeal filed by former Minister of Finance Etubom Anthony Ani with Suit No. HC/102/2008 against Etubom Ekpo Okon over the traditional stool of the Obong of Calabar and the traditional ruler of the Efik kingdom.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondents shortly after the visit, the President of the group, Asuquo Etim Okokon, said "we are simply here to celebrate in solidarity with the Obong of Calabar on his Victory at the supreme Court.
" It is not politically motivated as you see. We are all young men of various professions. We have young men from Efik, Efut, Abakpa and Okoyong."
Our Correspondents observed the presence of Former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Florence Ita Giwa who was the Senator for the Cross River South Senatorial District of Cross River State, and other senior Government officials.
The visit featured presentation of homage to the Obong and display of cultural heritage from the Ekpe Masquerade.
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