The ancient city of Calabar in Cross River State is
agog with preparations to receive the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare
II, and members of his traditional council, who will be guests to the Efik kingdom
for three days.
The Oba and his entourage are expected to be guests
to the Obong of Calabar, and Grand Patriarch of the Efik kingdom, Edidem Ekpo
Okon Abasi-Otu V, from January 10 to January 13, 2020.
While making the announcement of the visit of the
Benin monarch to the Efik kingdom, a member of the Etubom (kingmakers)
Traditional Rulers Council, Bassey Ndem, who briefed journalists on Thursday in
the ancient city, disclosed that the Oba and his contingent would arrive in Calabar
tomorrow and stay up until next Monday as guests of the Obong of Calabar.
Ndem said the visit of the Benin monarch to the Efik
monarch is "significant and historical, and will offer the two kingdoms
opportunities to renew their long existing relationship, and further
discussions on how to sustain it."
According to Ndem, "The visit will open a new
vista to an age-long relationship that had existed between the two kingdoms,
and I believe that the Benin people all around the neighbouring states near Cross
River State are already in high spirit in anticipation of the visit of their
Oba. So it will be a grand
display."
Describing the visit of the Oba as a friendly
gesture, Ndem said the Benin monarch would be hosted by the Obong whom the
former holds in very high esteem, given the age-long historical tie and synergy
that have existed between the two ancient kingdoms, saying: "Kings from
time to time visit their contemporaries."
The historical ties between the Benin and Efik
Kingdoms span over a period of over 100 years.
The Etubom mentioned the hosting of the great King
Ovonramwen of Benin in Calabar in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as one
of the most significant events in the relationship between both kingdoms.
He recalled that Ovonramwen became a guest to the
Obong of Calabar after he was exiled from his kingdom in what historians have
captured as ‘The Benin Massacre of 1896’.
"This was so according to history, that one of
their Obas lived in Calabar after he challenged the colonial masters. He was
sent on an exile and was received by the then Obong of Calabar. He lived with
Essien Etim Offiong family in Essien Town.
"Fortunately, he eventually had children here,
and indeed died and was buried in Calabar. So, there is a royal link between
Benin and Efik kingdoms.
"It is likely that the visit of the Oba of Benin
will afford them another opportunity to discuss the ancient time in the
presence of their Oba who was hosted by the Efik kingdom,” he said.
Outlining the itinerary of the Benin monarch's visit, Ndem
said the Oba would be hosted to a grand reception at the palace of the Obong of
Calabar on January 11, and a royal banquet will be staged in honour of the
guest on January 12, and on January 13, the Oba will pay a courtesy call to the
state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, before departing Calabar for Benin-city.
No comments:
Post a Comment