By Magnus Effiong
The Efik kingdom may soon experience lasting peace among various contenders and interest groups which had been at daggers drawn over succession to the throne of the Obong of Calabar, PillarToday gathered at the weekend.
Recall that the Palace had late last year, in response to an advice by the State government, set up the Independent Truth and Reconciliation Committee, to reconcile and nib in the mud animosity and bad blood which had enveloped the ancient kingdom for the past 16 years of legal fireworks.
The Independent Truth and Reconciliation Committee, which dropped the hint shortly after submitting the interim report of their assignment to the Palace of the Obong of Calabar last week, said truce was a possibility.
Fielding questions from a cross section of the press in Calabar after submitting the interim report, the Chairman of the Committee, Justice Michael Edem (rtd) said “We had set about the assignment with determination and we have come to an interim end, if I may say so. Having come to an interim end, an interim report is therefore a desideratum.
“The outcome of the assignment was to pour oil on the troubled water – the Efik throne. The Efik kingdom is not new to what had been happening recently. We were mandated to bring down the tension and shoot down the problems and also restore peace, tranquility which the Efiks are very much noted for. We are hopeful for with God nothing is impossible.”
Another key member of the committee and former Deputy Governor of the State, Barr Efiok Cobham, corroborated and added, “We have succeeded in our assignment and we have submitted a report to the Obong-in-Council today.”
On the workability of the report, the former Deputy Governor said, “It is a human situation so there are no clear-cut conclusions. It’s ongoing. But we’ve set in part in our report to the Etuboms Council, steps to be taken to encourage further reconciliation.”
Cobham acknowledged the complexities of the situation, noting that “Twins do disagree, then talk-less about a larger composition like the Efik kingdom,” but expressed confidence in the progress made, pointing to the relatively few responses to their call for memoranda as an indication of general satisfaction with the status quo.
“Apart from the issue in court which could be subjudice if pressed, which we cannot talk about here, I think there is a level of calmness in the Efik kingdom. The truth is Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V is one Obong that has stayed quite long on the throne.
“This is 16 years on the throne. For a very long time, we’ve not had a king that has stayed this long. You could see even the support from the various families that constitute the kingdom. They’ve been coming here to pay homage. That on its own should tell you that all is well.”
Pressed by Journalists on the nitty-gritty of the report, Cobham explained that the report submitted included several key proposals to ensure lasting peace, and emphasized the need for inclusivity.
“We have said that the palace should be open to everybody who wants to come in. The palace should be able to embrace even those who disagree. We are all one family. We will be happy to have everyone on board.
“We’ve also asked them to look into the loopholes that gave birth to the current disagreement to prevent future reoccurrence of the issue,” Cobham explained.
In an interaction, the Chairman of the Etubom Traditional Council, Etubom Bassey. O.B. Duke, said the Palace was yet to go through the report but assured that the Traditional Council would abide by the recommendations for the unity and peace of Efik kingdom.
