2023 Utomo Obong Begins with Crystal Thanksgiving Service in Calabar
The Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has initiated activities to mark the 15th anniversary of his coronation, tagged Utomo Obong.
As part of the celebrations, a Crystal thanksgiving ceremony was held on Monday at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, the Prelate of the Church, His Eminence, Ekpenyong Akpanika delivered a sermon emphasizing the importance of altruism and expressing gratitude to God for His grace in life.
During the sermon, the cleric also acknowledged notable individuals from the Efik Kingdom who have brought acclaim to the region, highlighting the need for the Efik Kingdom to seek divine guidance for national development.
Giving the charge in his sermon during the the Crystal Thanksgiving service, Akpanika, noted that in life, what immortalized a man is not what he does for himself but what he does for others.
Giving reasons to give thanks to God, focusing on Psalm 103:1-10, Akpanika emphasized that the journey of life is by grace and not by power.
The cleric mentioned famous sons and daughters of the Efk Kingdom who have made headlines in the past, and reiterated that the Efik Kingdom must seek the face of God for national development, stressing that “the Lagos of today is precisely Calabar in its glory days.”
It could be recalled that Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu from the Western Calabar geographical bloc of the Efik Kingdom was traditionally crowned at Efe Asabo (shrine of the python) on 3rd May 2008 after the demised of his predecessors, His Eminence, the late Edidem (Prof) Nta Elijah Henshaw VI.
The week-long anniversary event will feature a Golf Kitty on Friday, organized at the Calabar Golf Club, giving participants the chance to contribute to the festivities.
The celebrations will conclude on Saturday with a yuletide homage to the king at his country home, Adiabo Ikot Otu Ibuot, Odukpani local government area where tributes will be paid to the natural ruler of the Efik Kingdom to commemorate the occasion.
