My Reign Will Attract Investments, Uplift Living Standards - Obong Of Calabar-Elect
By Edem ITA and Victor UDU
The Obong of Calabar Elect, Etubom Anthony Ani says he will explore his vast global network in attracting foreign investments to Cross River in order to compliment government efforts targeted towards promoting socio economic development of the state.
According to the former Nigeria's Finance and Foreign Affairs Minister, "My quest to become the Obong of Calabar is basically to enable me use that pedestal to improve the living standard of our people through job creations and capacity building to guarantee employments in expected factories, while upholding our rich cultural heritage."
"By God's grace,I intend to achieve this lofty dreams by leveraging on my global business contacts garnered through the years in public service by the mercies of God, with a view attracting viable investments needed to drive our economic growth as a people."
The Obong of Calabar-elect dropped the hints in Calabar when he received a delegation from Ikot Offiong and Mbiano communities who were on a solidarity visit.
He assured the displaced people of Ikot Offiong that he will explore his good offices to facilitate their prompt resettlement in their secured and peaceful ancestral homeland to ensure return of normalcy to the war ravaged area.
He disclosed that he was conversant with the plight of the Ikot Offiong people, who were sacked from their ancestral home over 20 years ago after a bloody boundary clash with their Oku Iboku neighbours in Akwa Ibom.
According to him," I am aware of the sufferings of our brothers and sisters from Ikot Offiong who have been living as Internally Displaced People (IDPs) across the neighbouring communities. By the grace of God, we will address the challenge by liaising with relevant government agencies not only to ensure the return of permanent peace, but also facilitate proper rehabilitation to enable our people to return to their ancestral homeland and resume their normal means of likelihood.
"I will also ensure the provision of critical amenities like health centre, schools, and access roads to farmlands given the agrarian occupation of our people.
"You won't need to bother the government for everything. I would explore my contacts to uplift the living standards of our people and also attract investment opportunities to create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. Already, there is a truck assembly plant that will soon take off in October near Odukpani Junction,while an agro allied factory is in the offing."
Speaking earlier, a former House of Representatives member and one-time Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda, Chief Nya Asuquo revealed that the visit was meant to pay homage to the Obong- Elect given the historical ancestral affinity between Mbiabo Ikot Offiong and Ikoneto, where the Etubom Tony Ani hails from.
He expressed delight over the emergence of Etubom Ani as the Obong- Elect, noting that the seasoned technocrat possessed the charisma, acumen and intellectual sagacity befitting the revered throne.
The ex-envoy, who is the Clan Head of Ikot Offiong bemoaned the untold hardships and humiliation his people have been subjected to courtesy of their displacement and neglect by successive administrations in the state for over two decades.
He implored Etubom Ani to use his good offices to guarantee a permanent solution to the crisis once he assumed the throne as the Obong of Calabar.
Earlier, Chairman of Etubom Traditional Rulers Council, Etubom Essien Efiok stated that the homage was a routine ritual by the 12 Houses of the Efik Kingdom once a new Obong is selected and served as a prelude to formal coronation which is already underway.
