PRESS RELEASE

 Preparations are in top gear towards the coronation of His Royal Majesty Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng as the 16^th Obol Lopon of Ugep, historically said to be the one of the most populous indigenous communities in the country.

The monarchy dates back to about 400 years and the Obol Lopon of Ugep was among the First Class Chiefs that sat in the parliament of the then Eastern Regional House of Assembly in the First Republic (1963-1966).

 The event which is scheduled for Friday June 26, 2015 at the Umor Otutu Palace, Ugep, Yakurr, Cross River State is expected to attract the crème de la crème of the Nigerian and international society.

 According to a release signed by Sebastine Eko, Chairman of the Media Sub-Committee of the Central Planning Committee, there will be a Sunday Mass at the St Mary’s Catholic Church, Ugep to hand over the event to God on Sunday June 19, 2015 as commencement of the coronation event.

Ugep which is famous for its Leboku, an international and headline New Yam Festival is already agog, with the town dotted with colourful traditional decorations and dance preparations.

The coronation of a new monarch is sequel to the recent transition of His Majesty Obol Ubi Ujong Inah the 15^th Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Ugep is one of the most densely populated towns in Cross River State, southern Nigeria. It is the headquarters of Yakurr Local Government Area. The Obol Lopon is the highest traditional institution in Yakurr LGA. Yakurr has ten traditional communities each with its separate institution of her Obol Lopon.

Ugep Monarchy is a Matrilineality similar with the British Monarchy and others including Cherokee, Choctaw, Gitksan, Haida, Hopi, Iroquois, Lenape, Navajo and Tlingit of North America; the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia and Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia; the Nairs of Kerala and the Bunts and Billava of Karnataka in south India; the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo of Meghalaya in northeast India; Muslims and the Tamils in eastern Sri Lanka; the Mosuo of China; the Basques of Spain and France; the Akan including the Ashanti of west Africa; the Tuaregs of west and north Africa; the Serer of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania; and most Jewish communities.

Matrilineality is a system in which a person's descent is traced through their mother and her maternal ancestors. Matrilineality is also a societal system in which each person is identified with their matriline – their mother's lineage – and which can involve the inheritance of property and/or titles.

 The Obol Lopon-Elect was, until his election, a Non-Commissioned Officer who served in the Finance Department of the Nigerian Army Amphibious Training School, Calabar. He is 57.