Obongship Crisis: War, Peace And ...War Of Kinsmen
By Anietie - Akpan (Calabar)
AFTER much activities, Professor Nta Elijah Henshaw of Henshaw town in central Calabar was on August 31, 1999 crowned the Obong of Calabar.
The ceremony was performed by Etubom Bassey Ekpo Bassey IV, head of King James Ekpo Bassey House and chairman, Cobham town combined council.
Henshaw was crowned with the Ntinya (traditional crown) at the crack of dawn at Efe Asabo (Kingship Shrine) in Cobham town, Calabar.
The throne had remained vacant for eight months, after the demise of Edidem Boco Ene Mkpang Cobham on January 1, 1989.
Going by the 1970 Creek Town accord, it was the turn of Western Calabar to produce an Obong but for eight months, they could not, due to internal and external wrangling in the traditional political system.
Professor Henshaw backed by Etubom Bassey and others from central Calabar was perceived to have taken the throne by force; and ever since, the Obong has known no peace.
The people of western Calabar led by Etubom Itam Eyo Ibitam rejected the crowning; describing it as "an abomination and a breach of traditional procedures". They went ahead to select Etubom Ekpo Ekpenyong Efiok as their own Obong.
The peace of Calabar was threatened; and immediately the Cross River State government on September 4, 1999, stepped in and barred Professor Henshaw (or any other person) from parading himself as the Obong of Calabar. The government proceeded to institute a high power commission of enquiry headed by Justice Dorathy Eyamba Idem.
Justice Okokon Ita had earlier declined to head the commission as he was retiring.
On March 23, Professor Henshaw was arrested and detained by the police on the orders of the state government for "fraudulently parading himself in public as Obong despite a government order baring anyone from acting or parading himself as the Obong."
Consequent upon this, the state government white paper of May 17, 2000 on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the crisis for the selection of Obong of Calabar and paramount ruler of the Efiks, dethroned Professor Henshaw as the Obong and directed that he should be "investigated and prosecuted for conduct likely to cause breach of the peace, contempt of court injunction and impersonation."
Prior to the white paper, Professor Henshaw was arraigned before the chief Magistrate Court 1 on a two-count charge of impersonation and contempt.
Based on the white paper, the king makers were directed to conduct a fresh selection process; and the next Obong of Calabar should be picked "in accordance with the 1970 Creek Town accord (and) the only persons to be selected or to contest the election as the case may be, should be only accredited Etuboms from Western Calabar that are descendants of the founding fathers of the Efiks."
The white paper further directed that "after the traditional selection, the Etuboms' traditional council should inform the government who shall then issue official recognition to the Obong-elect before his installation as the Obong of Calabar (and); this will accord with the traditional Rulers Law of 1978."
The Etuboms went back for a fresh selection but unfortunately Western Calabar could not produce an Obong after Etubom Ibitam's selection was disqualified by the state government on grounds of health and inadequate education as specified in the Etuboms Traditional Council Constitution of 2000.
Based on this, Professor Henshaw for the second time, was selected from Central Calabar and was recognised by the state government. However, he did not pass through the second crowning since he had earlier been crowned by Etubom Bassey after the first selection. By Efik tradition, no Obong can be crowned twice or no person can be crowned in the life-time of an Obong.
The people of Central Calabar led by Etubom Itam Eyo Ibitam, then chairman of the Etuboms' Traditional Council and Secretary Chief Essien Ekpeyong from Western Calabar on November 3, 2001, addressed the press rejecting the crowning of Professor Henshaw as the Obong of Calabar. They described it as a "rape of Efik throne, which has been brought about by the selfish and vicious manipulations of Professor Nta Elijah Henshaw to seize the Efik throne by force using expelled Etuboms of the council as well as thugs to offset the Creek Town's 1970 Accord, which is still in force and bonds all Efik ruling houses as to the selection of the Obong of Calabar which alternates between Central Calabar comprising Henshaw Town, Duke town, Cobham town and old town, on the one part and Western Calabar comprising Creek town, Adiabo and Ikoneto on the other part."
Despite this protest however, Professor Henshaw finally emerged and was recognised by the state government in a letter dated October 15, 2001. He was subsequently given staff of office by the state's governor, Donald Duke.
After these, many had thought the travails of the Obong had ended. But a fresh crisis soon surfaced from within his "Cabinet."
Following a dispute between Etubom Bassey and another Etubom at the Obong's palace mid February 2004, the Obong went ahead to announce the expulsion of Etubom Bassey from the palace.
This action triggered off another round of crisis for the treaty king, natural ruler and grand patriarch of Efik Eburutu.
Etubom Bassey and 11 others at the Efe Asabo on Feburary 24, issued a public statement saying: "following the performance of necessary rituals at Efe Asabo, we blood descendants of Edidem Eyo Ema who, by shrine scheduled have the exclusive right so to do, have removed from the throne of our fathers, Professor Nta Elijah Henshaw VI. He can henceforth no longer function as, or enjoy the style and title of Obong of Calabar."
The embattled Henshaw was accused of not removing the leash of the shrine and breaching traditional rites.
The Obong fired back, insisting that he was still the Obong of Calabar and the grand patriarch of the Efiks.
The fighting and struggle between the Obong and Etubom Bassey and the people of Cobham town continued until the state government on April 5 waded into the matter nullifying the dethronement of Professor Henshaw as the Obong.
The government statement which was signed by the chief press secretary and Special Assistant to the Governor, Dominic Kidzu was captioned, "Halt this traditional Rascality." It stated " we have finally been compelled to publicly react to the unrelenting show of shame in regard to the Efik Kingship and office of the Obong of Calabar."
The statement noted, that whatever differences the Obong of Calabar and his Etuboms and high chiefs had, will soon be settled through age-old traditional and cultural avenues.
"Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Rather than seek for a peaceful settlement, the parties seem bent on impugning the integrity of the Efik royal stool and the Efik nation as a whole."
The statement continued, "as an administration, we wish to state very clearly that His Royal Majesty, Edidem Professor Nta Elijah Henshaw is, and remains the Obong of Calabar and grand patriarch of the Efiks.
"That the traditional rascals toying with the Obongship and common heritage of the Efik people should be well advised to desist from their mischief forthwith and rather address their minds to endeavours that will profit the Efiks and indeed Cross River State as a whole."
This April 5 statement by the state government finally put paid to the kingship crisis; and the Obong had some moments of respite though it was clear that the Cobham town combined council avoided to have any dealings with him before proper settlement of the matter.
However, since the government intervention, both sides sheathed their swords until the July 31, 2004 re-unification of all Efik people by the Obong of Calabar. The ceremony was held at the palace of the king and it was an exercise to bring back the people of Western Calabar who had refused to recognise Professor Henshaw as the Obong since 1999.
The press briefing by the Obong, at the ceremony triggered off fresh crisis between him, Etubom Bassey and the Cobham Town combined council.
At the briefing, the Obong said, "this press briefing is very important and crucial because of the 23rd (24) March 2004 attempted palace coup de'tat against Efik Kingship institution led by one Bassey Ekpo Bassey, a well known member of your calling. The coup failed but its reverberation goes on and the Efiks have survived once again, an attempt to bastard our throne by impostors/upstarts who think and wish base metal could be turned into gold.
"It would be recalled that during the wee hours of this morning, we visited our kingship shrine, Efe Asabo in support and confirmation of the ascension of Henshaw VI on Efik throne, appeased our gods and renewed that old Efik spirit with which our ancestors ruled the Calabar realm covering the entire present Akwa Ibom State, parts of Aba and Imo State, Akamkpa, Ugep Eburutu Ikom (in Cross River) and Western Cameroon including the offshore Island of Fernando po (now Equatorial Guinea)".
According to the Obong, "it has become pertinent that we confirm to the general public that our kingship shrine, Efe Asabo is part and parcel of the palace of the Obong of Calabar and therefore, the property of all Efiks and not any one person, family or house or principality. Its location too is the choice of Etuba Council. As Henshaw town cannot claim sole ownership of the Obong of Calabar simply because it is located in Henshaw town, Cobham town cannot also claim sole ownership or any exclusive right over Efe Asabo simply because it is located in Cobham town. Shrine or coronation roles are also assigned to Etubom councils to various Efik royal houses and therefore subject to change when the need arises; and we hesitate to say more.
"The interface between military rule and our nascent democracy appears to have induced some unconstitutional interface in our traditional kingship institution. This has generated a lot of despair as well as unleashed some avoidable harm on the people".
The Obong in his briefing, averred that because of the crisis between the people of Central Calabar and Western Calabar over his emergence as Obong, "during the capping of Efe Asabo and the coronation of Edidem Nta Elijah Henshaw VI, some of the appropriate Etuboms to perform the shrine rituals and coronation roles were not available. So an unqualified Etubom played the role he ought not to have played during the traditional coronation ceremony, thus opening a new episode in the succession crisis which was immediately regularised and there is need to support that regularisation and that aptly informed this happy reunion.
"The climax of the new episode in the succession crisis was the March 23, 2004 public press statement by one Etubom' Bassey Ekpo Bassey of King James Ekpo Bassey of Ibaka, Mbo local Government area of Akwa Ibom State and his fellow livelings that he has dethroned the Obong of Calabar. He claimed to have made him Obong of Calabar. This created the need for the pro-Western Calabar group who were not at the ceremony, to support today what was initially regularised by the Prof. Nta Elijah Henshaw group.
"Obliged to inform you that there has never been a King James Ekpo Bassey in Efik Kingship history nor a King James Ekpo Bassey House. King James himself was king in Obio Okon Ekpo, Ibaka now in Mbo LGA in Ibom (Akwa Ibom) State. He made himself King James 1 of James Town. He lived there, died there and was buried there in 1906."
The Obong maintained that, "His Royal Eminent, Edidem (Prof.) Nta Elijah Henshaw VI, is the Obong of Calabar, Treaty king, Natural Ruler and Grand Patriarch of Efik Eburutu. The protracted succession crisis has come to an end and we the 12 Efik principalities of Efik Eburutu occupying the five local government areas of Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Odukpani, Akpabuyo and Bakassi have come out of the crisis stronger and more united and with a resolve for all Efik at home and in the diaspora to arise and defend their heritage. Therefore, there is the need to continue the unity of the Efiks here and in Diaspora by creating an Apex council which was promulgated by the Federal Government guide line of 1976."
Again Etubom Bassey in a statement dated August 5 and signed by him and six other Etuboms and the Secretary General of Cobham town combined council, Chief Samuel Ene Cobham denounced Prof. Henshaw as the Obong of Calabar and barred him from entering the Efe Asabo. They equally went further to trace his (Henshaw) ancestral home saying he was not an Efik man.
Etubom Bassey and others pointed out that "contrary to claims by the professor and his friends, the occasion was not the unity of the twelve tribes of Efik Iboku. It was the reunion of the people who in 1993 claimed to have toppled the late Obong of Calabar, Edidem Boco Ene Mkpang Cobham V... as published in page 9, Saturday March 13th 1993 issue of The Guardian, and in a previous advertisement in the Vanguard had boasted that they had removed the Obong from his throne."
According to Etubom Bassey, "we leaders and people of Cobham town, with the help and support of highly responsible and patriotic Efik people everywhere, and rolled back the conspirator, Cobham V remained on the throne till he joined his ancestors in January 1999.
"Then we committed a serious blunder. We made one Professor Nta Elijah Henshaw Obong to succeed Cobham V. He was one of the conspirators who tried to topple Cobham V but had come to us with his tail between his legs, pretending to be penitent. Because some of the conspirators opposed the ascension of Henshaw, their group one side returning to the Efe Ekpe at Obutong. Their battle cry was that it was not the turn of Calabar Central to which Henshaw belonged, to produce the Obong. Their preference was for the head of their rebel group, Etubom Ibitam."
Thus, "what happened on Saturday July 31 was a celebration of the reunification of the group; those at Obutong and those with Professor Henshaw at Henshaw town. Six of the 12 Etuboms they claimed had turned up, never did. Five had disagreed and stayed away. One is traditionally sick, yet they claimed he was there.
"Cobham town, the seat of the Efik Kingship was definitely not involved with that charade for obvious reasons. One, we could not be part of the celebration of the conspirators' false triumph over the late Cobham V; two, we no longer recognise Nta Elijah Henshaw as Obong; and three, we see the organisers of that event not as a force for peace in Calabar, but as people who are actively preaching disaffection and organising for war. Our overwhelming preference is for peace and general reconciliation; for an all inclusive kingship."
On the issues raised by the Obong in his briefing, Etubom Bassey said Professor Henshaw and "his group of conspirators went anywhere near our Efe Asabo in Cobham town," yet he declared that he went there.
According to him, "the truth is that the people of Cobham town cannot permit any of the conspirators to enter the Efe Asabo ever again. They will not be allowed to dance on the grave of Cobham V.
"Henshaw stated in his briefing that the Efe is part of the palace and belongs to all Efik. Nothing could be further from the truth. He either does not know our tradition or is being plain dishonest with it. From the beginning of this Kingship, the kingship shrine (Efe Asabo) and only people crowned by Cobham town indigenes have been Obong. That is the tradition.
"To contradict that fundamental pillar of our tradition is to create a new kingship in which case Henshaw and co would have to register it with Government and seek recognition. We shall stick with the existing kingship with its traditions. To suggest that the shrine is the common property of the Efiks and part of his so-called palace is to tell a cruel lie. Antera Duke's several references to it in his 18th century Diary is as "Egbo Cobham's cabin. Ekpo Eyo Ene was the head of Cobham town at the time and owner of the Efe.
"In its present form, the Efe Asabo was rebuilt between 1978 and 1980. At the Cobham town combined council, we have details of the contributions and can show that not one person outside Cobham town paid a penny for the purpose".
Equally reacting on the Obong's allegation about his (Bassey) ancestries, Etubom Bassey, Henshaw's highly respected chairman of the Cobham town combined council, Etubom Bassey Ekpo Bassey IV reveals the gravemen of the current crisis in the Obongship. Whereas we of Cobham, town who have root-responsibilities for the throne are anxious to build a kingship that is all in-inclusive and at peace with its neighbours, Henshaw and his militant group think only of exclusion and war.
"Yet if we were to exclude certain persons on account of ancestry, Henshaw and his collaborators would be the first to go. Just as a teaser, we refer to page 63 of the Hart report which is generally regarded as source material for Efik history. The people of Creek town went to the Hart Commission in 1963 to say what is generally known. That Effiom Ekpo Ibenga Nkanta, Henshaw's presumed ancestor was an Ibibio man.
"Effiom Ekpo's children replied that he was an Efik man named after an Ibibio Chief. It is therefore a defence mechanism of projection that Henshaw seeks to disqualify people by insisting that they are from Akwa Ibom State. Where is the Efik person who is not from Akwa Ibom In fact, evidence available to us is that Henshaw's personal connections with Ibibio roots are much more contemporaneous than the inescapable truths of ancestry."
Etubom noted that "whereas the Governor, Mr. Donald Duke has enjoined both sides to the crisis to be quiet and keep the peace, Henshaw and EECA (Efik Eburutu Consultative Assembly) have since proceeded full blast, not only to sustain their media war against Cobham town, but also force lop-sided solution rather than await the outcome of the Governor's intervention.
"After some three months of un-abating provocation we are compelled to join issues with him for the sake of setting the records straight. After swearing on oath that our coronation of him at Efe Asabo on August 31, 1999 was what made him Obong of Calabar, he is now saying all kinds of unintelligible things and committing the perjury that could land him in prison.
"Be that as it may, the sum total of Henshaw's diatribe of Saturday 31st July 2004 is confirmation that he has no crown on his head and is only holding on to government Certificate for legitimacy. The day of reckoning is fast approaching."
In this latest crisis, government officials have kept sealed lips as the Governor was still working silently to reconcile all factions since the February 24 dethronement of the Obong by the people of Cobham Town combined council. Earlier directives by the Governor still recognise Professor Henshaw as the Obong.
Spokesman to the Obong, Chief Francis Henshaw said there was no crisis as far as the throne of the Obong of Calabar was concerned. He dismissed Etubom Bassey and Cobham town's action as a non-issue and declined to comment further.
The Obong is away in London was expected back yesterday.
