Cross River Assembly Seeks Sack Of Traditional Council Chairman

Cross River State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution to remove His Royal Majesty, Etinyin Okon Edet, chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, for staying beyond his tenure.

The lawmakers urged Governor Bassey Otu to appoint a new chairman to fill the vacuum immediately.

The House made the resolutions following a “Matter of Urgent Public Importance on the Crisis Trailing the State Traditional Rulers Council”, sponsored by the member representing Obudu State Constituency and deputy speaker of the House, Hon Sylvester Agabi.

Agabi stated that the council chairman’s office is tenured for two years, as the law states.

He stressed that the Traditional Rulers Council Law of 2009, section 1 sub 4 paragraph 1, provides for a two-year office rotation.

The assembly members condemned the current situation in which Etinyin Okon Edet has stayed in office for over ten years, stressing that it was to the detriment of both the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts and added that this was repugnant to natural justice.

In their separate contributions, the lawmakers averred that the Traditional Rulers Council Law did not provide for the renewal of the two-year tenure.

The House recalled that HRH Oti J.D. Agba from the northern Senatorial District had occupied the office for two years before handing over to HRH Eval ldaka from Abi in the Central Senatorial District after his demise before the expiration of his two-year tenure.

The House stated that the embattled monarch has done well, stressing that continuous stay in office as chairman is unacceptable.

The House asked the chairman to vacate the office without delay and allow another monarch from another senatorial district to occupy it.

The lawmakers also condemned Etinyin Okon Edet’s infringement on the office of Governor Otu’s special adviser on chieftaincy matters.

The speaker, Hon. Elvert Ayambem, said the law must be respected.