By Our Reporter
Few weeks after the people of Efut Kingdom in Cross River State rejected a Muri Munene/Paramount Ruler of the Efuts who Governor Bassey Otu endorsed, some clan heads of the Akpabuyo Traditional Rulers Council have also rejected the appointment of HRH Etinyin Francis Effiom Edem as the Acting Paramount Ruler of the Council Area.
Recall that the Governor, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, had appointed the clan head of Esuk Mba, Etinyin Edem, as acting Paramount Ruler, but this has not gone down well with some clan heads who described the appointment as an error.
In a chat with our reporter, the Clan Head of Akansoko, HRH Archibong Ita, who claimed to speak the mind of other clan heads of the Akpabuyo Traditional Rulers Council, said the appointment took them by surprise.
He explained that their worry stemmed from the fact that the newly appointed acting Paramount Ruler never bought the expression of interest form for the exalted traditional position when the government rang the bell for that purpose, and wondered how his name suddenly cropped up as the most qualified.
“It was only HRH Ekpenyong Ekpo and myself who bought the N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) expression of interest form but Etinyin Francis Edem did not buy. An expiration time was fixed for expression of interest but he never showed interest.
“That time expired and we were waiting for the government’s invitation to screen two of us who actually indicated interest when suddenly his name was announced as acting paramount ruler. This is pure injustice,” HRH Ita said.
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The Akansoko Clan Head further said that in line with their statute books, the paramount rulership position should be rotational, and alleged that Etinyin Edem was not qualified to become paramount ruler since he hails from the axis which has already produced three paramount rulers including the late HRH Lawrence Edet, who join his ancestors few months ago.
HRH Ita said, “Three persons from the same axis of Esuk Mba, Edet Nsa and Ikot Edem Odo have so far occupied the position of paramount ruler, I mean same axis, whereas it is supposed to be rotational between that axis and Idundu, Akansoko and Ukpong Attai axis.
“Akpabuyo local government area has 15 clans and ideally, it is the turn of the Idundu, Akansoko and Ukpong Attai axis which should produce the next Paramount Ruler but we were very surprised when some relatives of Etinyin Francis Effiom in Governor Otu’s government misled the Governor to appoint him as acting paramount ruler.
“We have all agreed that this appointment cannot stand because Etinyin Francis Effiom is from the same area that has produced three before. Even the last paramount Ruler, HRH Lawrence Edet, who joined his ancestors a few months ago was from there. It is the turn of our area to produce a paramount ruler,” he stated.
However, in an interview, the appointee, HRH Etinyin Francis Edem, dismissed the allegation, saying the Governor did the right thing since among the clan heads, he remained the most qualified for the position.
“The Governor did not consult me though but I am very happy that he has appointed me. As you may know, I am the most qualified clan head for the position and the Governor knows what he is doing. The people of Akpabuyo know what they want. As an acting Paramount Ruler, I will ensure there is peace in Akpabuyo,” he stated.
