Traditional rulers of Mbume clans in Etung local government area of Cross River State have once again called for reinstatement of the suspended paramount ruler of Etung LGA, His Royal Majesty, Ntue-Atue, Dr. Emmanuel Oru Ojong.
The traditional rulers made the call on Wednesday in Calabar, while reacting to the long-awaited reinstatement of the suspended paramount ruler as ordered by the State High Court.
A statement signed by three royal fathers of Mbume clans, His Highness, Ntufam Ojong Tawor Mathew, head of Abia Clan; His Royal Highness Ntufam Obase Erim, head of Bendeghe Ekiem community and His Royal Highness Ntufam Raphael Ekure Agbor, on behalf of Etomi, stated that it was sacrilegious for a paramount ruler to be changed when the original owner of the throne had not been dethroned and still alive.
Recall that the embattled paramount ruler was suspended by the immediate-past administration of Governor Ben Ayade on May 28, 2021 for his alleged involvement in what the government described as “unwholesome activities” that “threatened the peace and stability of Etung LGA.”
The suspended monarch, however, approached the Calabar High Court for redress, and the Court ordered that the monarch be reinstated because due process wasn’t followed in his suspension.
A resolution reached after a joint session of Mbume blocs of clans (comprising Bendeghe Ekiem, Abia and Etomi communities) in Etung LGA, read by His Highness, Ntufam Odu Ndep Moses, said in accordance with the judgement of High Court of Cross
River State in suit No. HC/96/2022, dated March 23, 2023, the conclave appealed to Governor Otu whom they said have a listening ear to expedite action in the reinstatement of the monarch whom a Calabar High Court reinstated even during the era of his predecessor.
“We observe with disgust that it is the apparent complacency and levity on the powers that be regarding the defence and preservation of the traditional institution that we uphold and cherish,
“That we inexorably played into the hands of the young adventurous clan head of Ajassor, HRH Ntufam Ntui Etta, who is seen to have been overtaken by lust for power, fame and wealth to launch his ill-advised reckless and divisive campaign to overthrow a legally constituted traditional authority.
“Besides, the first ground on which his widely publicised claim of being a paramount ruler-elect is severally flawed and untenable is that, it was not only a time barred but it had also been overtaken by legal reinstament of legitimate paramount ruler,” the monarchs maintained.
The aggrieved chiefs added, “Our paramount ruler who was selected according to our norms and values cannot be dethroned just like that. Mbume Clan cannot be treated derogatorily like that.”
On the issue of new Cocoa policy pronounced by the state government about three weeks ago, the Mbume clan urged the Governor Otu administration not to tamper with the Smartgov platform which was used by the Senator Ayade administration to offset the huge debt owed the cocoa landlords’ communities.
“Our interest in cocoa issue is that, never again should government default in the payment of royalties to cocoa landlord communities once royalties/rents are due,” they stated.