Economy
History: Why The Obong Of Calabar Is Called The Treaty King
History: Why The Obong Of Calabar Is Called The Treaty King
History: Why the Obong of Calabar is called the Treaty King. Many people do not know that hundreds of years before Nigeria was created, the Efik kings ruled as sovereign nations — respected and recognized by the British Crown itself.
The rulers of Old Calabar signed two historic treaties with Great Britain — first in 1841, and again in 1884 — not as slaves or subjects, but as co-heads of government in their own right.
The first treaty was The 1841 Anti–Slave Trade Treaty.
It was signed by King EYAMBA V of Duke Town and King EYO HONESTY II of Creek Town. It was the treaty where the Efik kings voluntarily renounced slave trading within their territories. The British signatory was the Naval Commander Captain BEECROFT— the same man after whom Beecroft Street in Calabar is named.
With this treaty, both nations pledged to encourage lawful trade especially in palm oil, ivory, and other local produce. British ships were automatically granted safe passage through Calabar waters, and both sides agreed to maintain peace and friendship. This made Old Calabar the first West African state to officially abolish the slave trade by treaty.
In 1884 Treaty of Protection was signed on September 10, 1884 this time by King ARCHIBONG III, King EYO HONESTY VII, and leading Efik chiefs, with British Consul Edward HEWETT (after whom Hewett Street in Calabar is named) representing Great Britain. Below are key articles from that treaty:
Article I:
“Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, in compliance with the requests of the Kings, Chiefs, and people of Old Calabar, hereby undertakes to extend to them, and to the territory under their authority and jurisdiction, her gracious favour and protection.”
Article II:
“The Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar agree and promise to refrain from entering into any correspondence, Agreement, or Treaty with any foreign nation or Power, except with the knowledge and sanction of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government.”
The 1884 Treaty placed Efik territories under British protection while preserving the sovereignty of the Efik throne. The British, in turn, guaranteed defense against external threats — meaning, if the Efiks went to war, British soldiers would fight beside them. It was this strong alliance that gave rise to the saying: “Efik edi Mbakara” — the Efik is as powerful as the white man. It may even have inspired the old Efik war song:
🎶 “Ima’i wot owo, Mbakara eye’kpe”.
Obong Of Calabar Is Called The Treaty King
During the Bakassi Peninsula case: Nigeria vs Cameroon, this very 1884 Treaty document was presented by Nigeria to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the Bakassi Peninsula case, to prove that Bakassi is Efik land under the traditional authority of the Obong of Calabar refuting Cameroon’s claim over Bakassi because the people had no traditional rule under Cameroon.
And so, to this day, the Obong of Calabar bears the title “The Treaty King.”
So I present to you;
His Eminence,
Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V
OBONG of Calabar,
Grand Patriarch of the Efik Kingdom,
TREATY KING.
Defender of the Christian Faith.
Okpebholo Threatening Me With Violence, I’ll Fight Back Says Obaseki
Okpebholo threatening me with violence, I’ll fight back says Obaseki. Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past governor of Edo, has accused Monday Okpebholo, his successor, of threatening him with violence. Obaseki spoke during the weekend at an event in London, the United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND
Since assuming office in November 2024, Okpebholo has initiated a series of actions aimed at scrutinising Obaseki’s tenure.
He first constituted a 14-member committee to investigate the assets, liabilities, contracts, and financial decisions made under Obaseki.
Okpebholo then expanded the scrutiny to the state civil service, ordering a probe into all recruitments conducted between May and November 2024, alleging a violation of due process.
Last week, Okpebholo asked the federal government to repatriate Obaseki to answer questions over public funds linked to the controversial Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.
‘OKPEBHOLO THREATENING ME’
Obaseki said the governor is threatening him with violence and allegedly sent thugs to attack him in the UK.
“Those who live by the sword will die by the sword,” Obaseki said. “And to tell the governor, Okpebholo, I don’t know him; I have never met him. When you start with violence, you will reap violence.
“For one year since I left office, I didn’t say one word. I decided to respect myself and allow them to try [in governance] as well. Go and find out, you won’t see one thing I said about his government.”
He accused Okpebholo’s government of being behind the attack on diplomats during the exhibition in MOWAA.
“As if that was not enough, the government paid people to come to Manchester to attack me,” he said.
“Who has started this violence? Is it me? Last week, this governor held a disgraceful press conference in which he threatened me not to come to Benin.
Obaseki
“They have been threatening violence. So if I respond, nobody should hold me responsible. “I can’t leave myself empty to be hurt and attacked by deranged people.
“So I am going to fight back. I will fight back. I didn’t start the fight. They are afraid. They know they did not win the election.”
Jigawa: 9,600 Teachers Register For Special Training
Jigawa: 9,600 teachers register for special training. No fewer than 9,600 teachers under the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) registered for a competency test to determine the specific training required to improve their skills and enhance teaching outcomes in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the Board, Professor Haruna Musa, revealed this while briefing journalists on the purpose of the examination, adding that 12,000 teachers were expected to register for the exam.
He explained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, was committed to repositioning the state education sector as a key foundation for sustainable development, in line with its “12-Point Agenda.”
Prof. Haruna noted that while the government has been spending significant resources to improve educational infrastructure, meaningful learning improvements cannot be achieved without also enhancing the capabilities of teachers.
“Based on that, the State Executive Council approved for the board to organise a competency test for all teachers. This will enable us to understand the kind of training each teacher requires to improve his or her skills”.
“Out of the 9,600 teachers registered for the exam, over 70% have never attended any capacity-building training since they were employed, including some with over 15 years of service,” the Chairman added.
Teachers Register For Special Training
He stated that after the exam, the teachers will be categorised into three groups: Group A, those with both knowledge and teaching skills; Group B, those with knowledge but lacking teaching skills; and Group C, those lacking both knowledge and teaching skills.
“Each group will be offered specialised training. Those in Group C will undergo intensive training and subsequent examinations for a period to ensure they are equipped with the required knowledge and skills”.
“For those with slower learning uptake, we will attach them to competent teachers within their schools for ongoing guidance and mentorship,” Prof Haruna said.
He further stated that the project is not about retrenchment, but his primary goal is to enhance teachers’ capacity for better learning outcomes within the state’s basic education sector.
PFA: Leadway Pensure Leverages Innovations For Quality Service Delivery
PFA: Leadway pensure leverages innovations for quality service delivery. A Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), Leadway Pensure said, it is leveraging innovation to escalate quality
service delivery to its retirement savings account (RSA) holders. This milestone marks 20 years of trust, exceptional service delivery, and value creation as it celebrates its anniversary. It highlights two decades of dedication to protecting the financial wellness of Nigerian workers.
Over the last 20 years, the PFA has served thousands of customers across Nigeria and beyond, standing as a clear testament to its commitment to providing financial stability at various stages of workers’ career journeys.
Speaking on this remarkable achievement, MD/CEO, Leadway Pensure PFA, Olusakin Labeodan, stated that: “As we celebrate 20 years of Leadway Pensure PFA, this milestone is more than a celebration of longevity, it is a tribute to trust, service and innovation.
From the very beginning, our mission has been very clear, to deliver a pension system without barriersOver two decades, we have transformed this vision into reality by simplifying pension access, embracing cutting-edge technology, and ensuring our services are always within reach. With a nationwide presence, a robust mobile platform, and the AI-powered assistant LISA, we have made pension services accessible to eligible Nigerians.
“We have supported countless customers in achieving life goals, from retirement to home ownership, by ensuring access, clarity and care at every step. This is a testament to the strong relationships and legacy we have built with every customer. Trust is at the heart of our service, propelling us to uphold world-class standards and earning us global certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, a mark of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our customers’ funds. ”
Leadway Pensure
Looking ahead, the company said, it is committed to promoting youth-focused financial literacy, growing personal pension plans and strengthening customer engagement across every stage of the pension journey.
“The next years and beyond will be shaped by the same dedication that brought us this far, a future-forward mindset, a culture of excellence, and an unyielding promise to stand by our customers every step of the way,” Olusakin concluded.
As it commemorates 20 years of service, Leadway Pensure reaffirms its commitment to simplifying retirement planning, delivering consistent value, and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.
-
Crime7 months agoKogi Assembly Considers Law To Regulate Rent, Establish Control Board: Tenancy Law
-
Akwa Ibom10 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New Territorial Chairman, Exco
-
Akwa Ibom10 months agoUmo Eno Commences Payment Of 80,000 Naira Minimum Wage With Arrears
-
News10 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New National President, Executive
-
News8 months agoAtiku Reveals Why He Failed To Pick Wike As Running Mate In 2023
-
News9 months agoSenator Natasha Returns To Senate With Husband Amid Seat Dispute
-
Economy7 months agoKiyosaki: Is Tinubu’s Government Afraid Of Ibrahim Traore?
-
Politics10 months agoPresident Trump Changes Divorce Law, No 50% Property Shares