Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Bakassi LGA, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, came under fire today as the Cross River State House of Assembly called on the State Government to terminate his appointment as Chairman, Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council.
Member representing Obudu State Constituency and Deputy Speaker of the House, Sylvester Agabi, who raised the matter on the floor of the House, opined that the monarch has overstayed his tenure in office as chairman.
Citing the CRS Traditional Rulers Council Law, 2009 as amended, Agabi, argued that this law has provisions for the tenure of the Chairman and members of Council. Section IV, subsect I, he added, provides for the rotation of the seat on the basis and recognition of the three senatorial districts in the state.
He was specific that, the late paramount ruler of Obudu, Uti Jeddy Agba, from the North of CRS, was in office as chairman of the council for the stipulated two years before handing over to Eval Idaka, from CR Central. After Idaka completed his term, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, from CR South, took over and has remained Chairman, way above the stipulated two year tenure in office, bearing in mind that the CRS Traditional Rulers Council Law has no provisions for the renewal of the two year tenure.
While the monarch’s contributions to the traditional institution in the state was commended by the House, it however maintained his stay in office has been unjustly prolonged, even meddlesome in the affairs of government.
Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the House, remarked at the sitting that rotation of the office of chairman, as prescribed by the law, will be upheld. Unanimously, the House agreed that the office of Chairman, CRS Traditional Rulers Council, be declared vacant.
The monarch was not immediately available for comments at press time.
