By Patrick Obia
Two out of fourteen boat passengers identified as Calabar University Medical Students Association are still missing at Calabar Marina Resort beach.
Fourteenth of them had boarded the boat at Marina Beach for a ride in what was tagged ‘The Paradis Experience’ but along the line the boat capsized, emptied all 14 students in what eyewitnesses viewed as overload on the boat.
Mixed reactions have trailed the incident.
There are unverified claims the students had no life jackets on them while others said they had but weren’t fastened.
While the root cause of the tragedy is unclear, a Facebook user and an appointee of Governor Bassey Otu Andrea Ekeng Inyang posited the boat capsize is beyond human understanding rather, from the spiritual root.
Ekeng opined that the recent mishap might be the anger of ‘Anansa’ the alleged goddess of the river especially now there is kingship tussle in Calabar.
He added: Clearly, these forces are beginning to rally round especially now that there’s been a great deal of disturbance around the throne. Don’t forget, the Efik Kingship is built on three cardinal pillars, ‘Ekpe’, ‘Ndem’, and ‘Ubong’.”
His opinion read this: “incident surrounding the boat capsize in Marina today isn’t just a natural occurrence but a spiritual activity for those who understand and keep taps with traditional activities.
“What people don’t know is that the Calabar River is a sacred habitat that has been exploited with reckless abandon for quite some time now without recourse to the aborigines and their traditions.
“I complained some time ago that there is an impending danger if we continue to disregard the testimonies of people that have come face to face with the water forces in time past, but I was ignored.
“Our forefathers have seen the clear manifestation of “Anansa”, the goddess of that river, and have continually reminded their children of the danger of ignoring her.
These stories have been passed down from generation to generation but in our generation, it was watered down.
“When the Nigerian Navy started their expedition in that region, they consulted our fathers who gave them the rightful counsel.
“The Nigerian Navy struggled to establish dominance after losing material and Human Resources to the Calabar River and decided to strike a pact by naming their base, the NNS Anansa.
“This followed years of peaceful operations till they decided in their wisdom that they’ve clammed the wings of the river goddess by renaming their base to the NNS Victory.
The “victory” indeed was a sheer display of arrogance and ignorance.
“Clearly, these forces are beginning to rally around especially now that there’s been a great deal of disturbance around the throne.
“Don’t forget, the Efik Kingship is built on three cardinal pillars, “Ekpe”, “Ndem” and “Ubong.”
“When there is a disturbance in one realm, there is an opposite and equal reaction from others,” he said.
At the time of this report, 12 have been rescued and receiving treatment in an undisclosed health facility while the search for the remaining two has intensified.
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