By Nsan Ndoma-Neji
Mbume blocs of clans comprising Abia, Bendeghe Ekiem and Etomi Communities in Etung local government area of Cross River State have vehemently opposed the imposition of an ‘Acting Paramount Ruler’ in the local government, insisting such title is unknown to Cross River State Traditional Ruler’s Edict 14 of 1978.
Arising from an emergency meeting, traditional rulers of the clans resolved that:
We the monarchs of the Mbume blocs of clans comprising Abia Bendeghe Ekiem and Etomi Communities in Etung local government area of Cross River State, held an emergency meeting at the Abia community town hall on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Conscious of the ill advised, irresponsible and consequently, ill fated conspiracy by a misguided clique to unseat His Royal Majesty, Ntue-Atue (Dr.) Emmanuel Oru Ojong, Paramount Ruler of Etung Local Government Area, once suspended but reinstated by judgement of the high court of Cross River State vide suit No. HC/96/2022 of March 23, 2023, pending anticipated re-enthronement; fired by a deepening sense of indignation and disgust, have, of compelling necessity, resolved to denounce and sun Clan Head Anthony Ntui Etta of Ajassor Community in Etung local government area with immediate effect;
Based on our resolution justifiably upon his avarice lust for – power driven impudence to replace the legally designated incumbent paramount ruler of Etung local government area, in defiance of judgement of the high of Cross River State as afore cited, which automatically invalidates any fictitious chieftaincy title he had arrogated to himself; since his adopted title of “acting paramount ruler” is both foreign and unknown to the Cross River Edict, Traditional Rulers Edit 14 of 1978. An electoral process conducted outside Etung local government was blatant infringement of Cross River State Traditional Rulers Edict 14 of 1978, consequently flawed, the claim by Clan Head Anthony Ntui Etta who was involved in that process to have been elected Paramount Ruler was therefore invalid.
Remind Clan Head Anthony Ntui Etta and fuellers of his folly that Mbume Blocs of Clans are indisputably the giant of Etung local government area constituting four fifth of its entire population as against a mere one fifth or less attributed to Abhon Nta Blocs of Clans to which Clan Head Anthony Ntui Etta of Ajassor belongs, thus portraying him as a disdainful, discourteous case of the tail wagging the dog.
Therefore it would most certainly have defied natural logic if we had been complacent to the extent of allowing Clan Head Anthony Ntui Etta to get away with his arrant aberrant insolence, and by implication, our timely assertiveness sends a clear sign of our determination to uphold our cultural values against defilement from whatever source.
Clan heads of Mbume Blocs of Clans, comprising Abia, Bendeghe Ekiem and Etomi communities.
Signed;
HRH Ntufam Etta Edim Tawo of Bendeghe Ekiem community, HRH Ntufam Obase Erim Obase also of Bendeghe Ekiem community, HRH Ntufam Tiku Takon Abang of Bendeghe Ekiem, HRH Ntufam Raphael Ekuri Agbor of Etomi Community, HRH Ntufam Fabian Nkpa Etor also of Etomi Community, HRH Ntufam Bernard Oyongha Akan of Abia community.
Meanwhile efforts to reach Clan Head Anthony Ntui Etta for his reaction were unsuccessful as his phone number was not connecting as at the time of filing this report.