Etubom Ani To Intervene In Calabar-Ikoneto Road Abandoned For 25 Years

Obong of Calabar-elect Etubom Anthony Ani has indicated interest in the rehabilitation of Calabar-Ikoneto Road which begins from Adiabo Community Calabar Municipality local government area to Ikoneto Community in Odukpani local government area of the state.

The project which was initiated by the administration of late General Sani Abacha was aimed at easing accessibility to some hard to reach areas in  Odukpani LGA but was unfortunately abandoned after the demise of the former head of state.

Since 1998, successive administrations have abandoned the road project causing untold hardship to residents of Adiabo and other communities in that area.

The former finance minister made the promise while receiving the people of Ufok Ekpo Edem Okoho, who paid a courtesy visit to his palace yesterday in Calabar.

The former minister who is now Obong-elect promised to do everything within his reach to ensure that the Ikoneto bridge and road linking various communities within Odukpani LGA are completed within 36 months if he is given the opportunity.

“Adiabo people call me Iberedem Adiabo, that Adiabo Road from Calabar to Ikoneto, since I left office in 1998 that road has not been done.

“Since I am the Iberedem Adiabo and I love the people very well, I will not mind what has happened and will see to the completion of that road”, Etubom Ani said.

Eturbom Ani stressed that as a thoroughbred, he is poised to ensure that there is an attitudinal change in Efik Kingdom within the next five years stressing that things will change positively in the Efik Kingdom.

The Obong-elect stated that he did not sue the Obong of Calabar but the process that led to the emergence of the deposed Obong.

He said he sued the Etubom Traditional Council as represented by Etubom Esien Ekpenyong Efiok and Etubom Micah Archibong as well as the Western Calabar Traditional Council represented by Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu and Otu Efa Otu.

“I posited that Western Calabar chose me and I was the only person who was screened.

“I did not know how Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu entered the screening after I had been screened and they subsequently sent his name to the Etubom Traditional Council who proclaimed him Obong.

“I did not accept it and said the process was wrong and there was no Obong of Calabar at that time and I also stated that he is not fit to be the Obong of Calabar.

“The court said we should go back to a clean slate and choose an Obong of Calabar and it should be based on fairness, natural justice and equity,” he maintained.

In his earlier remarks, the head of the Ekpo Edem Effiom Okoho House, Etubom Edem Ironbar said they came to celebrate with the Obong-elect.