By Wevole Ezin
A selected group of king makers have faulted the hasty selection process that brought back the deposed Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Okon Abasi Ot u.
It would be recalled that the embattled monarch was recently dethroned by the Supreme Court following a lingering litigation instituted against him by some aggrieved kingmakers in his domain.
But, in a new twist, few days after the Obong of Calabar was reinstated in office through a selection process, the concerned kingmakers under the auspices of “Legitimate Etuboms in the palace of the Obong of Calabar”, kicked against his return to the palace.
In a press statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Etubom Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok, HRH Etubom Micah Archibong VI (Secretary) and Chairman Central Calabar Traditional Council and Paramount Ruler of Calabar South Local Government Area, HRM Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon, they rejected the exercise.
According to the statement released to newsmen yesterday in Calabar, members of the group said the reinstatement of the Obong of Calabar cannot stand because the selection process excluded some major stakeholders in the traditional rulers council.
It noted that those who participated in the selection process were not qualified to do so, hence, rendering the entire exercise null and void.
“The statement made it clear that the HRH Etubom Essien Ekpenyong Efiok and HRH Etubom Micah Archibong VI, who were chairman and secretary respectively of the Etuboms traditional rulers’ council as well as respondents in both appeals should have conducted the proceedings in line with the 2002 constitution as ordered by the Supreme court, but that was not the case”, the statement read in part.
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