The Cross River State House of Assembly has taken a resolution removing the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRM (Dr) Etim Okon Edet.
The resolution, CONVERSEER gathered was made during today, Tuesday’s plenary by the House headed by Speaker Elvert Ayambem.
The reason for Edet’s removal, the House stated, was because he had overstayed his tenure as Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers’ Council.
The law stipulates a two-year tenure for the Traditional Rulers’ Council Chairman.
A very reliable source told our Reporter that “Etim Okon Edet has stayed for over 10 years, breaking the law.”
It was on this premise that the House of Assembly removed him, stating that they must reverse to status quo since we are in a democracy.
The Cross River House of Assembly further issued a new resolution, mandating the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, to appoint a new Chairman for the Traditional Rulers’ Council.
HRM (Dr) Etim Okon Edet is also the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi Local Government Area.
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The House of Assembly Resolution
Hon. Sylvester Agabi, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and member representing Obudu State Constituency raised the matter of public urgent importance which received widespread support from his fellow legislators, calling for the termination of the Traditional Rulers Council Chairman having overstayed his tenure in office.
Hon. Sylvester Agabi, stated the Traditional Rulers Council Law, amended in 2009 provided for the tenure of the Chairman and members of Council. He said that according to section 4, sub-section 1 of the amended law stipulates the rotation of the seat of the chairman of the council across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Hon Agabi further noted that in line with the provisions of the Traditional Rulers Council Law, the late paramount ruler of Obudu, HRM Uti Jeddy Agba, from the Northern Senatorial District chaired the Council for two years and handed over to HRM Eval Idaka from Abi in the Central Senatorial, who died in 2014 within his two years in office, and the position moved to Barr. (Dr) Etinyin Okon Edet, the current Council Chairman from the Southern Senatorial district, who has spent about ten (10) years in office, to the detriment of other Senatorial Districts.
During the plenary session, Members observed that the Traditional Rulers Council Law did not provide for the renewal of the two-year tenure. They said that even though Etinyin Okon Edet has performed incredibly well, his prolonged tenure in office is unacceptable and that he ought to step down to make room for someone from a different Senatorial District.
The legislators also denounced Etinyin Okon Edet’s purported interference with Governor Otu’s position as Special Advisor on Chieftaincy Affairs.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem in his remark, noted that the House will uphold the law’s prescribed rotation of the Chairman Traditional Rulers Council position. He also noted that the laws of the State must be observed.
The members of the Assembly, unanimously called on the State Government to remove Barr. (Dr) Etinyin Okon Edet, the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, who had served beyond his two-year term for ten years.
The Assembly noted that, in the interest of justice and peace, the current chairman’s position should be declared vacant for a new Chairman from a different Senatorial District.