C’River: Adiabo Stands Agog Over 2021 Utomo Obong Celebrations

By Ita Akpan

Calabar

The Country home of Obong of Calabar Adiabo, Udukpani local government council stands agog on Saturday 18th December 2021 as the Efik kingdom celebrates this year’s Utomo Obong the annual yuletide event to pay homage to the treaty king of Efik kingdom, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu-V, The Obong of Calabar.

In his remarks the Monarch use the occasion to sue for peace and calls on the political class in the state to play the game by the rule, respect the laid down agreement among the three senatorial district to avoid fighting one another during fourth coming general elections.

The King said, “I want to call on the political class, they must play the game by the rule, respect the laid down agreement between the three senatorial district to avoid fighting one another during the fourth coming general election”

The Monarch thanked the members of the Obong of Calabar Executive Forum, (OCEF), the 12 clans that make up the Efik kingdom for standing by him to ensure the sustainability of the Yuletide event.

Earlier, in his keynote address, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong innumerated the way forward in reposition Calabar to its rightful place to includes the following.

His words, “We must begin to work together as a team accepting our differences and focusing on contributions towards the growth of the Efik Nation and beyond. We must join hands to secure the sustenance of the Efik language, culture and heritage for our generations and the future, particularly in bringing up our children. We must also continued to respect and promote the stool of the Obong of Calabar to sustain her national and global impact and status, which stool I have earlier described as the symbol of our continued existence as a tribe and the pillar of the Efik Iboku natural character.

We must rise to the occasion to reform our business engagement strategies to include partnerships, attracting funding, value chain, controlling insecurity, cultism and drug abuse and to encourage our young people to imbibe the concept of artisan source of livelihood” the chairman said.

On his part, the chairman of Obong of Calabar Executive Forum, OCEF, Chief Gershom Henshaw in his welcome addrss during the event stress that, “The reverence of Efik throne under the suitable head ship of Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu-V, Obong of Calabar shall staunchly and unconpromisingly maintained.

Ditto Etuboms’ Traditional Council, our amiable King Makers and Advisers who need sincere supports.

The continuation and sustenance of “Utomo Obong” yearly Yuletide Homage’ and the scholarship Awards to our indigent but brilliant students in tertiary institutions are not negotiable. The incoming administration of OCEF shall by the special grace of God Almighty God work hard for the progress and unity of our people within the country and in the Diaspora by using the Efik Throne as relying point.

The event features clan by clan homage to the Monarch, other community leaders in the state, traditional display of different Efik cultures and presentation of scholarship awards to the deserving Efik sons and daughters in tertiary institutions.