…I’m Still the Obong of Calabar and Paramount Ruler of Efik Kingdom
…FUNAAB Chancellor Allays Fear of Purported Deposition
-Says Court Ruling Favours Him
…Thanks Members of the University Community for Their Support
Exuding confidence, calmness, and beaming with smile, the Chancellor of the University, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has disclosed and declared with convincing proof that he is still on the throne of his ancestors as the Obong of Calabar and Paramount Ruler of the Efik Kingdom.
The Obong of Calabar cleared the air on his touted deposition while receiving in audience in his palace, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olusola Babatunde Kehinde and the Registrar, Dr. ‘Bola Adekola who paid him a solidarity visit on behalf of the University.
A minor section of the media stirred the hornet’s nest when it reported that the Supreme Court had in a ruling on Friday last week dethroned the Obong of Calabar and ordered the Kingmakers and Traditional Rulers Council to convoke a fresh selection process to replace the monarch.
Smarting to the report, Prof. Kehinde led Management responded swiftly by visiting the Chancellor in his palace in Calabar, the capital city of Cross Rivers State.
According to the Registrar who accompanied the Acting Vice-Chancellor on the visit, they were received by His Eminence and High Chiefs in his palace.
Briefing FUNAAB Bulletin on the visit, the Registrar in a statement informed that the Chancellor affirmed that nothing has changed and that he is strongly on the throne, more so that the judgment favoured him and reinforced his hold on the stool of his ancestors.
According to the Registrar, “Our Chancellor is hale and hearty. He sends his appreciation to all members of the University Community for the show of love and concerns over the wrong information being peddled through the Press “The true position is that the judgement of the Supreme Court is an affirmation of the position of the Appeal Court in a judgement earlier delivered, which was favourable to His Royal Majesty”, he added.
The Registrar continued, “The judgement of the Appeal Court which ordered a new selection process had been complied with and HRM Edidem Abasi Otu (V) was returned unopposed by the ETUBOMs Conclave of the Palace (the Kingmakers) after repeating the selection process as directed”.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had on January 13, 2023, ordered the Etubom’s Conclave to conduct a fresh selection process for the throne of the Obong of Calabar.
The proclamation was done on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, by the Etubom’s Conclave of the Obong of Calabar palace.
