By: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
The Obong of Calabar and Treaty King of the Efik Kingdom, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has called on all those disenchanted by his re-emergence after the Supreme Court’s judgement of January 13, to reorder their priorities and begin to put the will of the people above their personal interests.
It would be recalled that on January 13, 2023, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement read by Justice Amina Augie, affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal on the disputed stool, and ordered that a fresh election for the position be conducted, where Edidem Otu V was duly re-elected by the kingmakers in line with the directives of the apex court’s judgement.
Edidem Ekpo-Okon Abasi Otu V made the call in reaction to unfounded news making the rounds, attempting to distort the apex court’s judgement and further questioning his re-selection as the Obong of Calabar.
Speaking while playing host to the Executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, recently, the Obong said, “This throne has been there for so many centuries and it is not something to toy with. But, unfortunately, it is not the people outside that are trying to ridicule the throne; it is a few sons and daughters of this kingdom who are doing this. But we will continue to defend our revered ancient throne.”
He condemned those who do not have values and rather living by “fake news and endless bickerings,” adding that, “not withstanding, you know as human beings, we expect all these things to happen.”
He charged the NUJ leadership in the state to maintain its high standards and checkmate those who for selfish financial benefits, stoop low to do the biddings of mischief makers, against their statutory and invaluable role as purveyors of information for societal good.
In his words, the first class King further charged the NUJ in the state, saying, “You are the power house in information management. People look up to you for news. But at the same time, let us have the true picture of what is happening; not fake news. Today, there is more of fake news than factual information in this country. Because some persons look at what they can make from it.”
He urged the union’s leadership to “come and be part of the palace; let us work together so much so that truth and factual information about the Palace of the Obong of Calabar can be disseminated to the people.”
He prayed for aborigines of Efik Kingdom who are sacrificing to sustain the revered ancient throne and also prayed that Journalists have the strength to exhibit moral high ground in the discharge of their duties, as well as uphold inviolable ethical standards of the esteemed profession.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Cross River State Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Nsa Gill, also disowned the claims in some sections of the media challenging the legitimacy of the Obong’s re-selection process, noting that as a core practitioner, “I am aware that over ten years legal tussle on the throne ended after the supreme court judgement which was duly followed by the Palace and the kingmakers in reselecting and enthroning the Obong.
He noted that the fact remains that the Obong is on the throne and the throne is not vacant.
“As a son of the kingdom with ample knowledge from covering the 15-year old litigation and wranglings, which lingered up to the apex court; I am appalled by the brazenness of mischief makers to peddle such misinformation on social media and some news blogs that the throne is vacant.”
“We the professionals have followed the litigation with keen interest. And are happy to see it come to an end, with the will of the people prevailing over individuality and personal interests,” the NUJ Chairman stated.
Re-echoing his position, Gill said, “I can authoritatively say that the Obong of Calabar stool is not vacant.”
The NUJ Chairman also intimated the revered monarch that his visit was to introduce his executive to him and also show solidarity with the leadership of the Efik Kingdom.
He assured the monarchy that journalists under his watch will continue to abide by professional ethics and at all times seek to report what is factual.
He also sought the Palace’s sponsorship of annual re-training of media practitioners in the State as part of the king’s social responsibility to his subjects.
In a related development, the Obutong Traditional Council of the Efik Kingdom also sauntered to the palace to pledge their community’s loyalty to Edidem Otu V.
Pledging his community’s loyalty to the palace, the leader of Obutong Traditional Council and clan head of Obutong Community, His Royal Highness, Etubom Iso Archibong Iso, congratulated Edidem Otu V on his re-election after the Supreme Court’s judgement and his fifteenth anniversary on the throne as King.
Etubom Iso eulogised the King for his boldness, transparency, sagacity, and exemplary leadership across the Efik principalities, saying “the three houses of Obutong reaffirm our loyalty and commitment to the sustenance of the Efik Kingdom and the traditional stool,” while wishing the monarch “God’s divine favour, long life and good health,” as he reigns on the throne.
