Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
Two kings can't exist in a kingdom, so declared Professor Tam David-West in a chat with the Weekend Telegraph.
Two kings can't exist in a kingdom, so declared Professor Tam David-West in a chat with the Weekend Telegraph.
David-West, Professor of Virology, had been asked for his reaction to reports making the rounds which suggest that the Abonnema people may have asked government to recognize their Amayanabo.
Said he, "Kalabari is a kingdom. It is not a republic."
Relying on history, Professor David-West noted that the monarchy in Abonnema is related to the Amachree throne in Buguma.
He explained that he is a relation of the blue-blooded princes of Abonnema whose family tree he traced from the times of Kamalu.
He said he understood the sentiments of his kith and kin in Abonnema but observed they were over reacting because of the way they feel about the way that incumbent Kalabari monarch is running the kingdom.
David-West while appealing to the Abonnema people to retrace their steps in the quest for an amayanabo recalled that during the chieftaincy classification exercise what was recognized was the position of an Amadabo.
He equally recalled that the government white paper was emphatic that no one would lay claims to any titles not recognized by it in the interest of peace and stability.
In the circumstance, he remarked, "There is no way any one can ask for what he is not."
He blamed the authorities for recognizing the incumbent Amayanabo of Kalabari, saying the matter challenging his ascension to the throne was still ongoing.
Professor David-West explained that Alhaji Asari Dokubo, who was a key dramatis personae in the hijack of the stool had confessed he helped to ensure the incumbent came into office through the back door.