By Our Reporter
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – With reported deadly clashes in some Cross River communities claiming lives and property, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V has urged the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, HRM Etubom Nyong Efiom Okon to urgently initiate plans for a lasting peace in the embattled Henshaw Town and other communities witnessing one crisis or the other within the council area.
The Monarch, who spoke in his Efanga Nsa palace on Thursday, when HRM Nyong paid him a courtesy call, noted that incessant disputes were undermining development in all warring communities.
The Obong told the Paramount Ruler and all leaders of the Henshaw Town, as well as the Calabar South Traditional Rulers Council, to put aside their differences, adding that HRM Nyong Okon has greater roles to play in ensuring that peace prevailed in the Calabar South Council area.
“Leadership at all levels requires tolerance, dialogue, and compromise. Traditional institutions must set the example of peace and harmony for the people. If rulers fight among themselves, the community will suffer.
“I hereby charge the Paramount Ruler to call all the factions and aggrieved people together in Henshaw Town Council and Calabar South Traditional Rulers Council and ensure that there is give and take until there is peace.
“We must live in harmony with one another. The traditional institution remains one of the strongest pillars of unity in Efik land and beyond and must remain so.
“I know that you have the capacity to handle every issue and bring peace, but where you find it challenging, do not hesitate to bring me in, and I will gladly make myself available for peace to reign in all our domains. I’m passionate about this,” the Obong told Etubom Okon.
Speaking earlier, HRM Etubom Nyong Okon likened his journey back to the Palace to that of a victorious warrior returning home.
“No Efik man had ever been elected as Paramount Ruler of Calabar South but I decided that the narratives must change. Yes! I went to war to change the narratives and I emerged victorious. Now I have decided to return home as a victor, to present myself to my royal father and to my people,” he stated.
HRH Nyong Okon said he was ready and willing to join hands with the Palace to uplift the Efik throne and that he would play any assigned roles that would ensure the Palace of the Obong of Calabar continued to enjoy its place as a foremost and first-class traditional throne in the country.
He assured the Obong that he would devote himself to sustaining peace within Calabar South.
“In fact, we have started doing that already even before coming here. I promise to continue maintaining peace and unity in my domain because unity is what strengthens us as a people,” he stated.
