Bassey Ekpo Bassey

Edidem Bassey Ekpo Bassey II (born November 1949) is a Nigerian journalist and politician who was crowned the Obong or traditional ruler of the Efik people of the Akwa Akpa kingdom (also called Calabar) on 6 April 2008.^[1]

Early career

Bassey was born in November 1949, son of Etubom Dr EE Bassey a medical doctor and grandson of King James Ekpo Bassey of Cobham Town. He had his early education in Calabar, Onitsha and Lagos. In 1974 he graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a degree in journalism. .^[2] He followed a journalism career which saw him working in several parts of the country for organizations like the Nigerian Chronicle, The Punch, Newbreed magazine and The Call. Edidem Bassey was also for a time vice-president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, and National Publicity director in the now defunct Nigerian Peoples Party. A socialist, in February 1989 he was head of the Directorate for Literacy and at about the same period he moved from cripto-politics to actual participation when he contested and won the elections for chairmanship of calabar Municipal council.^[3] .^[4] In 1991 he was a gubernatorial aspirant in Cross River State, running on the Social Democratic Party platform. he was also National vice chairman(south south) for the Alliance for Democracy.^[5] He was also a kingmaker in the Efik Kingdom, and on 31 August 1991 he crowned Edidem Nta Elijah Henshaw VI as the Obong of Calabar in controversial circumstances.^[6]

In 2004, while chairman of Chairman of Cobham Town Combined Council in Cross River State, Bassey called for the federal government to respect the decision by the International Court of Justice that the Bakassi Peninsula should be ceded to the Republic of Cameroon. In response, the Cross River House of Assembly resolved to withdraw his certificate of recognition as a chief which they had no authority to do.^[7]

Efik Kingdom succession

As chairman of the Etubom Traditional Rulers Council, in February 2004 Bassey announced the dethronement of Nta Elijah Henshaw on the grounds that Henshaw had failed to observe traditions and had failed to preserve peace.^[8] Henshaw refused to accept the decision, and cast doubts on Bassey's credibility on the basis that he represented a community in Akwa Ibom state whose ruling house no longer existed.^[9]

According to traditional rules, although an Obong may be deposed, a new Obong may not be crowned until the previous Obong has died.^[10] In April 2008 Bassey accused police of trying to assassinate him.^[11] In August 2008 Bassey's home in Calabar was stormed by gunmen, and he narrowly escaped death.^[12]

References

1. John Ighodaro (7 April 2008). "Bassey Ekpo Bassey Emerges New Obong of Calabar". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
2. John Akpan (26 April 2008). "And a Comrade Takes the Throne". Leadership. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
3. African concord, Volume 2, Issues 40-52. Concord Press of Nigeria. 1989. p. 88.
4. Edwin Madunagu (April 3, 2003). "HISTORY AND THE TRAGEDY OF 1989". GUARDIAN. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
5. The African guardian. Guardian Magazines. 1991. p. 32.
6. Chris Ajaero (April 13, 2008). "New Obong of Calabar Emerges". Newswatch. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
7. Amby Uneze (2004-10-30). "Bakassi: C/River Assembly Moves Against Ekpo Bassey". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
8. BONIFACE NZAMA (23 February 2004). "Obong of Calabar dethroned". Kwenu. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
9. George Onah (February 26, 2004). "I'm still in charge, says Obong of Calabar". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
10. Amby Uneze. "Obongship:Crisis in Paradise City". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
11. Ernest Chinwo (2008-04-15). "Obong of Calabar Alleges Assassination Plot". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
12. Ernest Chinwo (2008-08-26). "Obongship: Gunmen Invade Ekpo-Bassey’s Residence". ThisDay.