By Onwa Ekor
The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has advocated a collaboration of government and the governed to continuously uphold the tenets of peace and development in the state and in extension, the nation.
Speaking as the Father of the day during the swearing in of the Paramount Rulers of Akpabuyo and Yala local government areas in Calabar, the Cross River capital, the Royal father affirmed that the people are one and must maintain the status quo.
“We are all one and one we remain and this state will have to flourish in the traditional way and institution that all of us will respect and hold on to.
“I am appealing that we should not look at ourselves as people who are not together, we are together whether you like it or not, history will vindicate the just,” Abasi Otu said.
On the powers of the Obong of Calabar stool, the treaty king and grand patriarch of Efik Eburutu Kingdom explained that, historically the Obong of Calabar stool stood out, playing vital role even during the amalgamation period.
His words: “I think the Obong of Calabar was the only one that signed the treaty for all the South-South monarchs that were there.
“It is in this state that we have been relegating that stool to the background and we don’t push it forward to occupy the realms of affairs in the country where it should have been there to protect and hold on to this state for all that is required to grow the state,” he remarked.
Continuing, the Natural Ruler said, “it is the Obong of Calabar first before any other Paramount Ruler in this state, I am not the one that writes it, don’t look at me, you are looking at a historical stool that has been there and all we have to do is to update and uphold this stool to stand up and be like its peers.”
To other Royal fathers, he implored them to avoid infighting but see each other as brothers and the Council, set up by government that the administration will see and uphold peace as all grow together.
Earlier, the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, charged the newly sworn in to protect the cultural heritage of the people from polarisation, be it political or religious influence.
Otu also warned that the security of the respective domains should be prioritised as any traditional ruler who provides cover for criminal elements would be treated as an accomplice.
The event featured the presentation of staff of office to Etinyin Francis Edem Effiom Efa, and Ogamode Eje Ipuole, as Paramount Rulers of Akpabuyo and Yala respectively.
