Posted by Chief Anthony Ani, a former minister of finance in the late General Sani Abacha military regime in Nigeria, has asserted that he is the only Obong of Calabar who is officially recognized.
When the Mbiabo Esin Ufot Ikot Offiong community of the state’s Odukpani Local Government Area visited to celebrate his election as Obong of Calabar, he spoke in his palace near to Governor Bassey Otu’s new office in Calabar.
The neighborhood was led on the visit by Ambassador Asuquo Nyah, a former representative of Nigeria to Uganda. Ani, who is from the Mbiabo Ikoneto community, had visited him a few days before.
The former minister had some time to reflect on the procedures that, in his words, some kingmakers used to elect him even before the Supreme Court ordered a new election in January 2023.
He added that he had won all of the lawsuits against his appointment that had been filed during the previous 15 years, from the High Court through the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court’s final decision mandated that kingmakers go back and begin the selection procedure from scratch, and that the former Obong, Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, was qualified to compete in the selection process. The judgment further emphasized that the proceedings should only be run by the seven kingmakers who took part in the 2002 process and are still alive. Even though we obliged and officially informed Ekpo Okon, he and his friends decided to disregard the Supreme Court’s order. So I was chosen.
“I’ll be honest and say that Ekpo Okon is my cousin. He grew up and resided with my family, and I used to cover his expenses. He was the chairman of the committee that initially reviewed me, but he was tricked into replacing me as I was about to be proclaimed the Obong of Calabar.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve followed all the Supreme Court’s customary procedures and instructions. I am the Obong-elect of Calabar, whether the rest of the world likes it or not,” he declared.
The now 88-year-old former minister announced that his formal installation would take place soon after a presentation on Friday at the official chambers of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers’ Council.
Despite the fact that palace chieftains have gathered to discuss Etubom Ani’s recent activities and statements, informed sources in the palace of the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, stated that they do not want to glorify Etubom Ani and his group with any answers.
One of the accounts lamented that individuals had chosen to desecrate the Efik Stool for financial gain.