FOUR CATHOLIC PRIESTS BAG TRADITIONAL TITLES IN CALABAR,NIGERIA.

Four Irish Catholic Priests have been conferred with the highest Efik traditional title of Ada-Idahe Ke Efik Eburutu (Pillar) by the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V.
Speaking while conferring the traditional titles on the priests during the first anniversary ceremony .Monarch Obong said the recipients were honoured in appreciation of their invaluable contributions to the development of Efik land, their teaching and spreading of Christianity for the winning of souls for Jesus, as well as self-less services in the field of education for many decades.
The Obong said unlike other traditional institutions, the Efik kingdom tradition was in tandem with Christianity, nothing that the Ekpe masquerade was used in the ancient times to check bad conducts and force people to go to church and worship God.
For such reasons, the Monarch said the acceptance of the title of Ada-Idaha Ke Efik Eburutu by the Reverend Fathers implied their full understanding of the Efik tradition and the kingship on issues of morality. The Catholic Priests include Rev. Father Dan Nolan, Rev. Father James Kellecha, Rev. Father Long Worth and Rev. Father Patrick Patrick Coren.
Aside from the Catholic Priests, the traditional ruler also conferred similar traditional titles on the representatives of Cross Rivers State at the National Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Bolaji Anani, a business mogul, Elder Bong Duke and Lady Elizabeth.
Chairman of the chieftaincy committee on the conferment of chieftaincy Titles on Deserving Men and women, Etubom Otu Efa explained that the Efik chieftaincy title was unique as it made the recipient honorary members of the palace of the Obong of Calabar who could be called upon to represent the monarch in any capacity commensurate with their ability and competence. He said the chieftaincy title was also of the highest quality in the country because the Efik kingship institution was one of the oldest in the country.
“Mbong of Calabar like the present Obong signed the treaties that established the Niger Coast Protectorate, the Oil River Protectorate, and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria with capital in Calabar as well as the treaty of Amalgamation of Southern and Northern Protectorates into one country, Nigeria with capital briefly in Calabar before it was moved to Lagos.
“Accordingly, the revered stool of the Obong of Calabar existed long before Nigeria and in fact, made Nigeria. Therefore, the difference between the chieftaincy title conferred by the Obong of Calabar as Treaty King/Natural Ruler and those by the numerous government created stools is clear”, the Etubom stated.