Obong of Calabar throne: Obong council member says Ani’s claim “storm in a tea cup”
A member of the Obong of Calabar cabinet has described the recent claim by Etubom Anthony Ani to be the Obong of Calabar designate as a storm in a tea cup.
Otuekong Sir Frank Edet, chief and head of media/publicity in the palace of Obong of Calabar made the comment in an exclusive conversation with a LENS Reporter on Friday September 15, 2023 in Calabar concerning the protracted legal tussle over the converted ancestral Efik stool which has progressed from the High Court to Appeal Court and Supreme Court.
“The issue at stake is a seriouse one and should not be treated with levity but requires a holistic approach to address the matter properly for peace to reign in Efik Kingdom which is united as an entity,” .
It would be recalled that Etubom Anthony Ani, a former Minister of Finance to the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha is laying claim to the throne of Obong of Calabar latching on a Supreme Court judgment which declared the position vacant and called for re-election of Obong of Calabar from the conclave of Etuboms in Council.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for Etubom Anthony Ani faction, Etubom Nya Asuquo who is a former National Assembly member as well as a former Ambassador of Nigeria to Uganda posits that since four out of the remaining seven Etuboms in Council have adopted Etubom Ani as the new Obong in tandem with the Supreme Court directive, Etubom Anthony Ani is the substantive Obong of Calabar-elect pending his coronation.
On the contrary, Otuekong Edet who is a member of Etubom’s traditional council agued that Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V remains the defacto Obong of Calabar since he was never dethroned by the Supreme Court ruling nor his cabinet members who have confirmed him as the Obong of Calabar and treaty King in Efik dynasty. He said the status quo is not in contention as Ani was not even qualified to contest in the selection as he was neither crowned as an Etubom nor a member of the Etubom’s council.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
