By Kelvin Obambon
The Chairman of Etung local government area, Hon. (Comrade) John Nkom Etuk, has cleared the air surrounding the alleged suspension of the Paramount Ruler of Etung, HRM Ntufam (Dr) Emmanuel Oru Ojong.
Ntufam Ojong, had at a press conference in Calabar on Tuesday, alleged that on the 26th of March, 2021, he got a letter from the Chairman of Etung local government area, Hon. John Etuk, conveying the indefinite suspension of the clan head of Effraya, Ntufam Richard Ojong and two other chiefs over the fraudulent sale of land without the consent of the Effraya community.
The Paramount Ruler said the Chairman also dissolved the committee that was set up in 2013 to look into issues of royalty payment and allocation of Cocoa plantations in the local government, and attempted to replace members of the committee with his cronies.
Ntufam Ojong claimed that his refusal to endorse the new committee put in place by the council Chairman led to his indefinite suspension from office. He said the suspension also affected the clan heads of Bendeghe Ekiem, Afrigon and several others.
Even as he averred that the council boss has no power to suspend him and his clan heads, the royal father lamented that he has not been paid salary since the suspension was slammed on him.
He said his travails began as a result of his support for Dr Oscar Ofuka, the Special Adviser to Cross River governor on Cocoa Development and Control, and that what transpired had the finger prints of AIG Joseph Mbu, whom he noted, is a close friend of the Etung Council Chairman.
But when contacted on phone by our correspondent on Thursday over the allegations made by the Paramount Ruler, the Executive Chairman said although he had wanted to suspend the royal father, he lacked the power to do so, because according to him, it is only the state governor who is constitutionally vested with such power, and that he has made a request in that regard.
On the allegation of non payment of salary to the Paramount Ruler, the Chairman said “When I came on board, I did an audit and discovered that in the traditional rulers council, he was embezzling salaries meant for about 21 chiefs, of which some are death. Even my own late father, his salary was still running. So I have to stop it. Because of that, he started having problem with me.”
On the involvement of AIG Mbu in the controversy, Hon. Etuk said “He (The Paramount Ruler) had a problem with AIG Mbu before now. The problem was with his community. He committed a very serious offence by selling community lands, and was sent on exile for so many years with a fine and duration to pay. After expiration of the deadline to pay the fine, he now summed up money to pay the fine, but AIG Mbu opposed the payment because he also committed other offences.
“So he then took the matter to the EndSARS tribunal, and the tribunal gave him the power to go back to his village. When he got there, he dissolved the existing town council executive and the youth. When he did all that, I now say no. My councillor representing Abiam, where he comes from, called me and say ‘There’s fire on the mountain’. I said no. Let the youth leader and the existing exco remained. I then invited all of them for a meeting. I invited the chiefs, the youths, the town council Chairman and all political appointees to my office so that we can resolve the matter amicably. However, the meeting coincided with the one the deputy governor invited us. I then sent a message that they should not come until when I come back. But the Paramount Ruler was furious at this.
“Before now he has been saying that he is the Chief Executive that I am under him and that I should take instructions from him before doing anything. I disagreed with him on that. He chartered 6 cars and okada people in black cap and came to the council to harass me.”
The Chairman accused HRM Emmanuel Ojong of inciting crisis and dividing the people of Etung for his selfish interest.
Responding to the allegation of dissolving the Cocoa royalty and allocation committee, Hon. Etuk said the committee was dissolved because it was headed by an aged person, Engr. Obi Attah, who according to him, would not be able to meet up with the constant travel demand of that position.
He said the clan heads welcomed the idea and willingly signed the revocation of the power of attorney given to the previous committee. But HRM Emmanuel Ojong declined to sign, insisting that “I should call the meeting of all the clan heads, which I did. When that was done, he still refused to sign, this time around saying I didn’t buy him cow during December and that I don’t use to give him money.”
The Chairman also said after much persuasion by other clan heads, the Paramount Ruler agreed to sign but insisted that the secretary of the traditional rulers council should bring the documents to his house. And that when the papers were taken to him, he seized them until date.
This action, he said, got other clan heads angry, prompting them to call for the Paramount Ruler’s suspension from office.
Hon. Etuk concluded by saying that he has been doing his best to ensure peace and stability in Etung, especially with the presence of separatist agitators from Amazonia, Southern Cameroon in the local government area.
