By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Traditional rulers from Mbume blocs of clans, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, have called for reinstatement of suspended Etung LGA paramount ruler, His Royal Majesty, Ntue-Atue,Dr. Emmanuel Oru Ojong.
Mbume blocs of clans’ traditional rulers made the call yesterday in Calabar, while reacting to the long awaited reinstatement of the suspended paramount ruler.
A statement signed by three royal fathers of Mbume clans, His Highness, Ntufam Ojong Tawor Mathew, head of Abia Clan, His Royal Highness Ntufam Obase Erim,head of Bendeghe Ekiem community and His Royal Highness Ntufam Raphael Ekure Agbor on behalf of Etomi, stated that it is sacrilegious for a paramount ruler to be changed when the original owner of the throne had not been dethrone and still alive.
“A resolution was reached after a joint session of Mbume blocs of clans (comprises Bendeghe Ekiem, Abia and Etomi communities), Etung LGA.
“His Highness, Ntufam Odu Ndep Moses, before newsmen, ead the resolution said: ” In accordance with judgment of High Court of Cross River State, suit No.HC/96/2022,dated March 23,2023.
The conclave appealed to Governor Otu, whom they claimed have a listening ear to expedite action in the reinstatement of the monarch whom a Calabar High Court reinstated even during the era of his predecessor, even though Gov. Otu’s predecessor wasn’t in the mood to reinstate the suspended paramount ruler.
“We observe with disgust that it is the apparent complacency and levity on the powers that be regarding regarding the defense and preservation of the traditional institution that we uphold and cherish,
“That we inexorably played into the hands of the young adventurous clan head of Ajassor, HRH Ntufam Ntui Etta, who is seen to have been overtaken by lust for power, fame and wealth to lunch his ill advised reckless and divisive campaign to over throw a legally constituted traditional authority.
“Besides the first ground on which his widely publicize claim of being a paramount ruler-elect is severally flawed and untenable is that, it was not only a time bared but it had also been overtaken by legal reinstatement of legitimate paramount ruler”. The monarchs maintained.
The aggrieved chiefs said,” Our paramount ruler, who was selected according to our norms and values cannot be dethroned just like that. Mbume clan cannot be treated derogatorily like that.
On the issue of new cocoa policy pronounced by the state government about three weeks ago, Mbume clan statement urged the Gov. Otu led administration not to tamper with the Smartgov platform which was used by the senator Ayade lef administration to offset the huge debt owed the cocoa landlords communities.
“Our interest in cocoa issue, is that never again should government default in the payment of royalties to cocoa landlord communities once royalties/rents are due.
“With copies evidence globally that no democratically succeeding or supplanting administration decides to wipe the slate clean by ignoring existing laws, inherited obligations and arbitrarily yields to what i convenient as modus operandi”. The statement advised.
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