Governor Bassey Otu Dissolves Cross River State Council of Chiefs

Governor Bassey Otu has acted on the resolution of the Cross River State House of Assembly, which urged the removal of HRM (Dr) Etim Okon Edet, the chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, citing alleged brutality and an eight-year overstay in office.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, the governor approved the immediate dissolution of the Cross River State Council of Chiefs, chaired by Dr. Edet, who is also the paramount ruler of Bakassi LGA.

“The governor’s action is pursuant to Section 4 of the State Council of Chiefs law, Cap C15 Laws of Cross River State 2004.

The tenure of the council had since lapsed,” Owan-Enoh explained. He noted that the State House of Assembly recently passed a resolution for a change of leadership due to Dr. Edet’s extended term.

Former presidential aide Chief Okoi Obono-Obla also weighed in on the matter. In a statement, he asserted, “It is the turn of the Central Senatorial District to produce the Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council.”

He criticized the prolonged stay of the chairman, arguing it disrupted the rotational principle intended by law, which mandates that the position be rotated among the three senatorial districts.

Obono-Obla highlighted that the tenure of the incumbent chairman expired in 2012 and urged the Assembly to amend the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Law to address such anomalies.

In response, HRM (Dr) Etim Okon Edet remarked on his lengthy tenure, spanning the administrations of former Governors Liyel Imoke and Prof. Ben Ayade, and noted that Governor Bassey Otu had initially requested his continuation in office.

“I am not imposing myself on that throne. Many paramount rulers have encouraged me to continue.

However, the governor has the prerogative to ask for a replacement. It is not something that should be taken to the House of Assembly to embarrass me,” he said.