Statement by the Efik Leadership Foundation (ELF) on the Biafra Issue

7 July 2017 

The Efik Leadership Foundation (ELF) is a vibrant pan Efik non-governmental organisation (NGO) that champions the cause of the Efik people of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, particularly as it affects community building and national development.

Our vision, through our activities is to actualise the dream of a united Efik people that are socially and economically prosperous within and beyond Nigeria.

The ELF has as its core strategy, the following:

i. Leadership.

ii. Education.

iii. Entrepreneurship.

iv. Good governance.

We aim to achieve the aforementioned through mentorship, sponsorship, grassroots engagement, advocacy, partnerships amongst others.

The ELF has watched patiently in the past months, the activities of certain individuals and groups agitating for the secession of certain States from Nigeria and the creation of Biafra nation.

Our decision to finally publicly state our position is borne out of the growing false propagation especially on social media of maps showing various versions of the proposed territories of the new country being agitated for wherein such maps include our beloved Cross River State.

More recently, we were presented with a video of one Nnamdi Kanu, the acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at a gathering of some sort, where he thanked an unknown fellow for attending the meeting on behalf of the Obong of Calabar. This unknown man who dressed in an attire mimicking the Efik attire, had earlier claimed to be representing the Obong of Calabar. 

Historically, and as can be Googled for confirmation, the Obong of Calabar "is one of the eight rulers recognised by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Natural Rulers and Treaty Kings whose Kingdoms existed hundreds of years before the amalgamation, and who interacted with, and signed Treaties and Agreements with Sovereign Nations in Africa and Europe". We are therefore pleased to note that the Palace through the Chairman of the Etuboms Traditional Council (ETC) has since unequivocally disowned and distanced the Palace from the impersonator.

Presently, it has become absolutely important to make known the stance of the Efik people on this issue of Biafra to fellow Nigerians and the world at large. We therefore declare as follows:

1. Although we acknowledge the imperfection of the present Nigeria union, we the Efik people are peace loving people hence the acronym for CALABAR: Come And Live And Be At Rest. We primarily seek, within a workable and generally beneficial framework, a better, effective and equitable union of all constituent parts and people of Nigeria, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, sex, age, status and other circumstances of life. 

2. History has shown that we have never been a part of Biafra and we reiterate that we are still not a part of this new proposed Biafra, either.

3. We were never consulted before or after the said Nnamdi Kanu and his co- adventurers began their new agitation for the Biafra Nation thus any attempt to annex or conscript us surreptitiously or use our people, land and territory as basis for bargaining is unequivocally resisted by the Efik People.

4. While the Biafra agitators and indeed all Nigerians are entitled, within the law, to speak up against injustices, marginalization by the Nigerian State, and need for referendum and restructuring, the Efik people are also very capable of tabling their own grievances, which indeed exist, to the relevant authorities without necessarily using Biafra as a crutch.

5. We are deeply pained and feel insulted by the actions of IPOB, more so when they attempt to portray the Efik people as co-travellers in a venture where the two parties have not met to discuss any points of mutual benefit or interest. 

6. The office of the Obong of Calabar is a highly revered office and the incumbent would never belittle himself by sending such a representative to any gathering. We make bold to say that in this particular instance, the so called representative was fraudulent and the Efik people vehemently alienate themselves from that gathering. The Etuboms and any other person whom the Obong may occasionally ask to represent him are usually carefully selected and well spoken men and women of substance and definitely not the calibre of the imposter shown in that video.

We therefore demand that the Biafran agitators cease and desist from further including the Efik people in their Biafran shenanigans or misleading the world that the Efik people are part of the movement. For now, we the Efik people remain part of Nigeria and are more inclined to making the country a better place for every Nigerian.

Signed

1. Richard Duke (Trustee)-London

2. John Nya Offiong (Trustee)-Calabar

3. Barrister Obo Effanga (Trustee)-Abuja

4. Reginald Yves-Bassey (Trustee)-Lagos

5. Franca Archibong (Trustee)-London

6. Barrister Helen Essien -Lagos

7. Ken Henshaw-

8. Ukorebi Ita-Calabar

9. Essessien Edem-Abuja

10. Susan Henshaw

11. Asandia Hogan-Calabar

12. Barrister Timothy Archibong Esu-Calabar

13. Assoc. Prof Bassey Ephraim-Calabar

14. Sir, Chief  Maurice Effiwatt,ksji,jp-Akpabuyo

15. Edwin Okokon-Port Harcourt

16. John Henshaw-London

17. Edem Bassey-Abuja

18. Edem Duke-USA

19. Peter Archibong-Calabar

20. Abasi Asukwo-USA

21. James Okon Otudor (JP)

22. Edem Duke-Calabar

23. Alice Duke-Calabar

24. Efio-Ita Nyok-Calabar

25. Eyo Ekpenyong Nsa -Calabar

26. Essien Offiong-Ireland

27. Ewa Aye Henshaw

28. Ekpenyong Ekpenyong Ambo-Abuja

29. Etim .E .  Ekanem –Abuja

30. Chief Efiom Edem Orok-Calabar

31. Amasi Eyet Inyamg-Calabar

32. John Essien Inyang

33. Samuel Ekpenyong Bassey -Calabar

34. Benedine Bassey Atima-Calabar

35. Amasi Eyet Inyang-  Abraka

36. Emilia Bassey Etim-Lagos

37. Francis Etang-Calabar

38. Eyo Nsa Nkune-Lagos

39. Roseline Asuquo-Calabar

40. Charles Offiong-Lagos

41. Peggy.E.Archibong-Lagos

42. James Effanga Archibong-Calabar

43. Martin Bassey-Calabar

44. Onoyom Onoyom-Lagos

45. Norah Ekpo Effion-Calabar

46. Edemanwan Offiong Akak-Calabar

47. Adim Bassey

48. Edem Bassy Otu-Calabar

49. Emmanuel Ekpo Bassey-Calabar

50. Emmanuel Ekeng Henshaw

51. Anthony Bassey Effiong-Calabar

52. Majorie Effiom Edet-Calabar

53. Okokon Eburutu Ita

54. Hogan Bassey Jnr-Lagos

55. Inyang Ekpenyong –Calabar

56. Roseline Asuquo-Calabar

57. Nkechi Enobong Mordi-Lagos

58. Amanda Bassey-Calabar

59. Ededem Effiom Ephraim-Calabar

60. Malvin Cobham Edet-USA

61. Kingsley Otu-Lagos

62. Alice Rowland Edet-Calabar

63. Umo Adam-Yenogua

64. Offiong Louis Joseph-Calabar

65. Chief Bassey Okon-Calabar

66. Bernard Etim-Calabar

67. Geraldine Boco-Jos

68. Prince H. Hogan

69. Gloria Eme Ekpenyong-Abuja

70. Rosemary Bassey Ita-Calabar

71. Mary Bassey-Calabar

72. Abigail Bassey-Delta State

73. Emmanuel Bassey-Calabar

74. Edak Odey-Calabar

75. Efanga Efiom-Calabar

76. Uta Duke-Calabar

77. Deborah Duke-Calabar

78. Albert Efanga-Calabar

79. Joseph Otu Coco-Bassey-Calabar

80. Florence Edung Ita-Calabar

81. Prince Ukorebi Joseph Eniang Ani-Ita-Calabar

82. Effiom Edem-Calabar

83. Philip Henshaw-Calabar

84. Ukorebi Ndem-Ndem-Calabar

85. Emmanuel Okokon Asuquo-Bakassi

86. Gerald Ekpenyong-Lagos

87. Bassey Edem Ephraim-Texas, US

88. Effiom Bassey Adam-London

89. Jeffrey Eniang Offiong-Ikoneto

90. Daniel Umo Orok Ephraim-Calabar

91. Efioanwan Etim Nyong-Bakassi

92. Bassey Effanga Asuquo-USA

93. Nkute Hogan-Lagos

94. Bassey Tennyson Okon-Calabar

95. Matilda Ironbar-Calabar

96. Jayne David-Calabar

97. Ahmad Bassey-Calabar

98. Christopher Henshaw-New York, USA

99. Efioanwan Edet Hogan-Calabar

100. Bella Effiong Ita-Calabar