PREAMBLE:
His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was born on Saturday
July 26, 1920 and it pleased God Almighty that on July 26, year 2020, he attained
one hundred [100] years of age. It could therefore be deduced that he was born
on the last day of the week and his one hundredth [100] birthday fell on a Sunday,
the beginning of the new week and “God’s Own Day”. This connotes a long
heartwarming period and the full completion of a centenarian circle. For which
we ‘Give God the Glory’. From the information contained in the opening sentence
of this profile, this doyen of Cross River State Politics was born a few years
after the formal amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates of the former
British Colony to form the country now known as Nigeria.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE:
His father
was Late Obong Esien Enian Esien, M.B.E., the then Paramount Ruler of Efik
Iboku Esit Edik, an area comprising Creek Town, Adiabo and Ikoneto as presently
constituted. His mother was Late Madam Edemanwan Ewa Esien of Henshaw Town,
Calabar, nee Ma Edemanwan Ewa Efanga. His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT.Hon.],
Prince, Enian Esien was the eldest son in a family of four males and two
females.
EDUCATION:
His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.] Prince, Enian Esien commenced his primary
School education at Government Primary School Mamfi, Cameroons, where his
father was the Head Master of the School. Later on, Government Primary School,
Eket, Akwa Ibom State was opened. His
father was transferred to head the School. His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT.
Hon.] Prince, Enian Esien accompanied his father to the new School. There he
sat and obtained the Standard Six [6] Certificate. He gained admission into the
Hope Waddell Normal School, Calabar, Cross River State – a School system that
blended vocational and conventional secondary education. He finished in the
apex class in the School. Thereafter, he commenced internship with his late
father, playing basically supervisory role and carved a niche for himself in
that setting. He is a determined and vigorous person, but he is also pleasantly
a calm and an unassuming personality.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:
As he
grew, up he was captivated by the activities of the nationalists, who advocated
for self-rule in Nigeria. As such, between 1944 – 1950, this Elder Statesman
was pre-occupied with activism as a youth. He collaboated with his
contemporaries, namely, Barr. Kola
Balogun, Nduka Eze, Mokwobo Okoye, Osita Agwuna and Aminu Kano to mention a few
of them, to form the Zikist National Vanguard. The Vanguard was a political
subsidiary to the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons [N.C.N.C.], one
of the nationalist movements which fought for Nigerian Independence. His
persistent association with those who played positive role towards the
attainment of Nigeria Independence in 1960, assisted to bring His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien to lime-light.
Between
1951 – 1953, His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom,
[RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was elected to the Eastern House of Assembly,
Enugu, Nigeria as a member representing Calabar Division. In 1952, while still
a member of the Eastern House of Assembly, he moved a motion for the
establishment of Calabar Oil Palm Plantation a.k.a. Calaro Oil Palm Plantation
at Mbarakom in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. It
is on record that the oil palm plantation contributed immensely to the
socio-economic development of Eastern Nigeria as a whole when it subsisted. Furthermore,
when he was actively involved in politics, resilient optimism was his guiding
principle. From this standpoint, he made consequential contributions to the Nigerian
democratic experience.
WORKING EXPERIENCE:
In 1945, His
Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was employed by
the then Meteorological Service, a subsidiary of the Federal Airport Authority
of Nigeria. In 1954, he resigned from that employment to contest for the
position of Chairman of Calabar Urban
District Council. He won the election and became the Chairman of that Council.
His administration nurtured and strengthen two foremost Secondary Schools,
namely, Hope Waddell Training Institution, Diamond Hill, Calabar and Saint
Partick’s College, Ikot Ansa, Calabar. Also, it was during his Chairmanship of
that Council that Government Primary School, Mayne Avenue, Calabar, was built.
The School was converted into the Science Secondary School during the
Governorship tenure of His Excellency, Mr. Donald Etim Duke.
In 1955,
the Efik - Qua - Efut Native Authority had to wind-up in order to give room for
an elected Local Government System of government. This Elder Statesman was a
co-opted member of the winding-up Committee. His honest and unwavering
disposition made him to cause the Authority to donate four thousand pounds
sterling [£4,000.00] from its distributive assets to the Roman Catholic
Mission, Calabar under the leadership of Late ArchBishop [Dr.] Brian David
Usanga, for the establishment of the Holy Child Girls Secondary School, Goldie
Road, Calabar; a Secondary School which
subsist to date.
Between
1974 – 1984, His Royal Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT.Hon.], Prince Enian Esien
had at various periods served as Commissioner for Local Government,
Commissioner for Works and Commissioner for Establishment in the old Cross
River State. During the period under reference, he ensured the establishment of
Secondary Schools in Akpap Okoyong, Obomitiat Edere and Odot all in Odukpani
Local Government Area in Cross River State. His effort in establishing new
Schools and strengthening the existing Schools represent major investments in
human capacity development in the old Cross River State in particular and
Nigeria in general. As the Commissioner of Works, his tenure witnessed up-surge
of urban renewal programmes and the opening of rural roads in the old Cross
River State as was then constituted. Also, some phases of the State Housing
Estates were built under his watch. As Commissioner for Environment, he
developed training policies and programmes which enhanced the performance of
the entire old Cross River State Public Service Sector.
MYSTICAL LIFE:
His Royal Highness,
Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien is a Mason of Scottish Constitution
origin. He is a member of Lodge Hope, No. 02, Grand Lodge of Nigeria, Calabar.
He is the oldest living member of the Lodge. He served the Lodge as the
Worshipful Master [literally, the leader of the Lodge] from 2007 to 2010 Masonic
years, making him to served in that capacity for three [3] consecutive terms.
He greatly imbibed the tenets of the Masonic axion of “Brotherly Love, Relief
and Truth”. He is indeed a true and faithful mason within and outside the Order.
To the Elder Statesman, life means family members and friends whom you can
trust and who also trust you. He discovered and cherished this virtue in
freemasonry.
COMMUNITY LIFE:
His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien is a dependable leader
in many areas in the Efik Community. He is a member of the Etuboms Traditional
Rulers Council, the Highest Policy and Kingship body in Efik Eburutu Kingdom.
He is also a member of the Odukpani Traditional Rulers Council of Odukpani
Local Government Area, Cross River State. This humble man of integrity and
Elder Statesman is also a member of the Efik Iboku Esit Edik Traditional Rulers
Council. A Council whose membership comprise traditional rulers from Western
and North Western Calabar and their Advisers. He is an amiable cultural activist who is
always involved in keeping Efik Culture alive. In 1998, the Obomitiat Ikoneto
Traditional Council sought and obtained approval from the Etuboms Traditional
Council in the Palace of the Obong of Calabar to split Obomitiat Ikoneto Royal
House into two [2] Distinct Houses, namely, Ikot Ukpong and Ikot Ukorebi Royal Houses, respectively,
from the single House status as
Obomitiat Ikoneto. When the split was perfected, His Royal Highness, Elder,
Etubom [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was capped the Etubom of Ufok Ikot
Ukpong and Late Etubom Esien Ukorebi Ekpenyong, of blessed memory, was capped
the Etubom of Ufok Ikot Ukorebi, all in Obomitiat Ikoneto. As a cultural icon,
he is presently the Iyamba Ekpe of Efe Ekpe Obomitiat Ikoneto, an Ekpe Lodge
which belongs to Mme Efe Ekpe Efik Iboku fame and ancestral lineages.
SOCIAL LIFE:
His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien built relationships
based on love, respect and sincerity. He is of the opinion that in recent
times, it is unfortunate that people accord recognition more to social status
than anything else, which according to him is a wrong practice and should not
be encouraged. For him service to humanity is a core value in human
relationship. He loved with compassion and showed more sense of concern for the
well-being of others which ultimately becomes a source of happiness and relief to
all around him. He empowered some youths within and outside the ambience of his
immediate community and for others, he assisted them with the paying of their School
fees and purchase of books. Thus, he became an advocate for bottom-up solutions
for sustainable development, with a view to evolving the culture of entrepreneurship
amongst the people in a wider perspective. Furthermore, he took steps to
develop the tacit knowledge of individuals through organizing community meetings
where individuals indicate their handicaps and required assistance. He then
went on his own to source the assistance required and deliver same to the needy.
Indeed, he inspired many more persons beyond what words can convey and express.
His
benevolence and good leadership traits were transmitted to successive State
Government administrations. In consequence, in year 2005, the administration of
His Excellency, Mr. Donald Etim Duke, honoured him with a Certificate of Special
State Award for his commitment towards the transformation of Cross River State.
Similarly, in year 2010 during the golden jubilee of Nigeria, His Excellency,
Senator Liyel Imoke, then Governor, Cross River State decorated His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien with other fifty [50]
Citizens of Cross River State with a State Special Award in recognition of his
outstanding services to the State.
CHRISTIAN LIFE:
His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was born into the
Presbyterian Church. He first worshipped at the Duke Town Parish and later he
transferred his membership to the Henshaw Town Parish of the Church. In year
2015, he left to Presbyterian Faith and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints, Ephraim Street Branch, Calabar. In recognition of his
startling devotion and contributions to the Lay Section of the Church, he was
ordained an Elder in that Church, where he worships to date.
MARITAL LIFE:
His Royal
Highness, Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien was married to Mrs.
Sarah Ewawa Esien, nee Sarah Ewawa Eke from Obutong, Old Town, Calabar. She
died in 1948. This amiable Statesman is blessed with five [5] children. Two
male and three female, namely, Esien Enian Esien, Edemanwan [Glory] Enian
Esien, Victor Enian Esien, Efioanwan Enian Esien and Eme Enian Esien.
Regrettably, Efioanwan Enian Esien died a couple of years ago.
CONCLUSION:
His Royal Highness,
Elder, Etubom, [RT. Hon.], Prince, Enian Esien is a meticulous and an amazing
personality versed in politics and community service. He is blessed with
longevity. It is therefore a worthy event to celebrate his dexterity and
resilience as a credible and dependable leader who is modest, resourceful,
articulate, pleasant, hardworking, generous, calm and conscientious in his
approach to issues and whose legacy is worth emulating by his succeeding
generations.
Thank you.
Compiled By:
Chief [Hon.] Esien E. Ekpenyong, Jp.
July 2020.
