Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has been re-selected the Obong of Calabar according to the 13th January 2023 judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Etuboms’ Conclave convoked on 18th January to comply with the decision of Nigeria’s apex court ruling.
After the reselection process, the Conclave issued a statement which reads in part,
’Fellow Citizens,
‘Following the judgment of the Supreme Court sitting at Abuja on 13th January, 2023 ordering that the Etuboms’ Conclave, the kingmakers, of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar should “conduct another process of selecting Obong of Calabar in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Etuboms’ Council 2002 and in strict compliance with the rules of natural justice”, among other things, the Etuboms’ Council has promptly complied with that Court order by taking all the necessary steps leading to and convening the Etuboms’ Conclave and conducting another selection of Obong of Calabar.
‘The turn to produce the next Obong of Calabar, after the demise of His Eminence Edidem (Prof) Nta Elijah Henshaw VI, being that of the Atai Iboku group of Houses (in Western Calabar), as provided for under The Constitution of Etuboms’ Council 2002, the qualified Etuboms who fall under this group were communicated to and directed to produce and present their nominee to the Etuboms’ Conclave by Wednesday, 18 January 2023.
‘The most senior Etubom of the Atai Iboku group, HRH Etubom Otu Efa Otu, presented their selected nominee for the throne of the Qbong of Calabar in the person of HRH Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu of Adiabo Ikot Mbo Otu House. Having been fully satisfied with the candidate’s qualification and eligibility, the Etuboms’ Conclave therefore declared him the successor, and hereby conveys his PROCLAMATION as the successor to the throne of Obong of Calabar today, 18th January, 2023.’
Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has, for the umpteenth time, been reaffirmed the Obong of Calabar, Natural Ruler and Grand Patriarch of Efik Eburutu Kingdom NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively. pic.twitter.com/DpAOtIBhwO
— NEGROID HAVEN (@NegroidHaven) January 14, 2023
Recall that NEGROIDHAVEN had earlier reported that the Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has, for the umpteenth time, been reaffirmed the Obong of Calabar, Natural Ruler and Grand Patriarch of Efik Eburutu Kingdom following Friday’s Supreme Court of Nigeria’s judgement affirming the decision of the Court of Appeal which dismissed the two appeals of Chief Anthony Ani a former Minister of Finance.
It should be noted that the pronouncement of the Supreme Court was that the 2 appeals brought by Anthony Ani were thrown out for ‘lack of merit’.
The content of this Supreme Court judgement is a reaffirmation of the appellate court judgement of 10 years ago confirming that Anthony Ani was never qualified to contest and that his participation rendered the exercise defective. She then ordered a fresh election without Anthony Ani and in accordance with the 2002 Constitution rules of selection.
This was complied with and redone 10 years ago. Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V was then re-proclaimed as the Obong of Calabar.
EDITORIAL
This story amongst others are reviewed on Sparkling 92.3FM http://mixlr.com/sparkling923fm–2and FAD 93.1FM. Again, opinions expressed on NegroidHaven are exclusively the author’s not NH’s.
