Contrary to widely held belief that Kalabari is a Kingdom, the Amanyanabo of Ke Kingdom, HRH, King, Rt. Hon. Agolia Cookey Aboko Benebo, Omoni XII, has said Kalabari is rather an Ethnic Nationality.
King Omoni, who made this clarification recently when a delegation of the Kalabari Media Forum (KMF), an apolitcal international organisation, paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt, said it amounts to a demotion to refer to Kalabari as a Kingdom, because it is beyond a Kingdom.
Throwing more light on his declaration, he took his domain, Ke Kingdom, as an example, saying his community is a Kingdom, no matter what others may say, and he would stand by it.
“We are ‘Ke Kingdom’. Nobody will take that Kingdom away from Ke. I’m not saying it out of pride. I’m not saying it out of stubbornness. I’m saying it with the understanding that as long as you call Kalabari a Kingdom, you’re reducing Kalabari.
“As long as you call Kalabari a Kingdom, with just one King, you’re reducing Kalabari. Kalabari is an Ethnic Nationality, they are beyond a Kingdom”, he stated.
He explained that Ke wasn’t the first to pronounce itself a Kingdom in Kalabari. Not even others like Tombia, saying Abonnema and Bakana were the first to declare themselves as Kingdoms, though they didn’t give it a categorical pronouncement as such at the time.
He traced it to the point at which Abonnema and Bakana communities pulled out of the Kalabari Se Kobiri (Kalabàri Kingdom Gathering) to declare themselves as their own Se (Kingdom).
The Kalabari Se Kobiri has hitherto been the highest law-making body of the Kalabaris, but has lately been divided against the dictates of its original founding fathers.
Noting that ever since that self declarations, only a faction of the two communities still attend the Se Kobiri, with their Kings no longer bowing to the supremacy of the King Amachree stool of Kalabari.
This action, he noted, was a subtle declaration of a Kingdom by Abonnema and Bakana.
The Royal Father further noted that this was what created the “Tra Se” (three Kingdoms) in Kalabari, which are “Kalabari Se”, “Abonnema Se”, and “Bakana Se”, from which the saying “Kalabari Se na amina abille na”, meaning Kalabari Kingdom and its adjoining communities.
He explained further that consequently, “Kalabari at a point had three Kingdoms: Abonnema, Buguma, and Bakana. So, now, we have Ke Se, Tombia Se, Kula Se, etc. All of us are under ‘Kalabari Ethnic Nationality’”.
This, he explained, is to enhance growth and development of the Kalabari Ethnic Nationality, which, he said, needs to come together, as a people, to take back its rightful position in the comity of ethnic nationalities in the State, and Nigeria at large in order to be relevant.
He also assured KMF of his support, as long as it is targeted at uniting the Kalabari nationality, while also giving his blessings to KMF in its pursuit.
Earlier in his address, the Coordinator of KMF, Alabo Dagogo Clinton, who led the delegation to the Royal Father, explained the reason for the visit, saying it is to seek the support of the Royal Father in giving the Kalabari nation a single voice, among other things.
He said, “As a group, we have in addition to being the eye of the Kalabari nation in the media, put together some ideas that we believe can show the way to Kalabari renaissance.
“These ideas can be best operationalised by a pan-Kalabari group that we do not have yet. It should be noted that the Kalabari Se Kobiri was not envisaged for the current power play in our polity.
“We need the equivalent of Affenifere of the Yoruba nation, Ohaneze of Igbo and Ogbako Ikwerre etc.
“The leadership of the Kalabari nation will need to put together an acceptable group of proven and tested persons drawn from all the major Communities, to form a sociopolitical group to work for Kalabari from the flanks. On this, we earnestly need your support”.
Alabo Clinton also thanked the King for the reception accorded the KMF delegation given the promptness of the visit.
Also in the KMF entourage were: Awolayeofori Harry Macmorrison (Secretary), Soibi Max-Alalibo, Kariba Harry, Kingdom T., and Opaka Dokubo.

Soibi Max-Alalibo