War Imminent As C/River TRC Chairman, Otu's Chieftaincy Affairs SA Lock Horns
By Our Reporter
War seems to be inevitable within the ranks of the Cross River state traditional institution following a heated altercation between the Special Adviser to the governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Frank Edet, and the Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council (TRC), Etinyin Etim Okon Edet.
The confrontation which occurred late March, has triggered controversy, raising questions about governance and traditional authority in the state, THE BEAGLE NEWS has learned.
Eyewitnesses and insiders said the brawl came as a result of ages long grievances and power tussle predating the appointment of a new Special Adviser within the Chieftaincy Affairs department. Another source quite familiar with the unfortunate development revealed that the chairman of the traditional rulers council, who had clinched on to the position for as long as 10 years, contrary to the customary two-year limit, physically assaulted the governor's aide in company of three other Paramount Rulers and other persons.
Insiders who pleaded anonymity said that tensions reached boiling point when the TRC chairman attempted to exert dominance over the political appointee - Chief Edet, prompting a heated verbal exchange and physical attack in the latter's office. Witnesses recounted scenes of chaos as the TRC chairman, accompanied by some known and unknown persons attempted to remove Chief Edet from his office with brute force. The fight, which degenerated to having Chief Edet barred from entering his workplace, has continued to raise questions about the rule of law and governance in the state.
Etinyin Okon Etim Edet request for the Special Adviser to the governor to be part of a meeting he had summoned with some clan heads is said to be the genesis of the Fracas, as those familiar with the workings of things say the Chair of TRC is subordinate to the SA on Chieftaincy Affairs. "Etinyin Okon Edet does not have any right to summon the SA to a meeting he was not even originally invited to. For the sake of courtesy, the SA went there and sat down beside him". He said to the clan heads, "this is our new SA on Chieftaincy Affairs. He has been sent to come and work under us here. The clan heads that were there were mostly from Akpabuyo and Bakassi."
"A few days later the Chairman TRC sent for the SA Chieftaincy Affairs to attend another meeting, but the SA respectfully declined, informing the TRC chair's messenger that His Excellency had assigned some responsibilities to be done, reason why he cannot make it. The next thing one of our staff ran into the office saying "oga chairman is coming to our office o' in a scared manner.
"Before you could say Jack Robinson, Etinyin had opened the SA's office and walked in like Mussolini of Italy. The SA stood up in surprise but before he could say anything the TRC chair allegedly started shouting at him querying thus: 'Who are you? Who do you think you are? Are you king? Are you God? I have worked with other SA's nobody insulted me or went against my instructions. Since you came here you don't have any respect for me. You don't take instructions. You don't do what I ask you to do. I will not work with you in this office because I cannot control you. I work with those I control."
"The next thing, some of his boys came and held the SA's suit and tried to drag him out of the office. We said to them not to drag the SA that way, rather we pleaded that it is better for the SA to leave the office quietly since he was not born in that office and obviously shouldn't be killed there. Three paramount rulers were there with him. Other clan heads were there too and the other persons he brought to come and push the SA out of the office. You can imagine the effrontery to remove and push out a representative of the governor from his office. The SA wasn't even wearing his shoes because the place was hot, so he had to removed them. Infact I've never seen such a thing. The SA after being manhandled just asked if he could be allowed to take his shoes and they mockingly allowed him to go back and retrieve his shoes. Etinyin and the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South were standing there and shouting at him until he walked away after which the thugs warned him never to come back to the office," he recounted.
The embattled SA drove to the governor's office with some workers who accompanied him and he met with the Chief of Staff, whom he told all that had happened. The chief of staff was really shocked by the development.
Meanwhile before the SA got to the governor's office, the TRC chairman was alleged to have called the SA and was overhead asking him to tell whoever sent him that he cannot work with him and has someone he wants to work with.
They went further to say that the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh was also aware of the very primitive and embarrassing display.
"After the incident happened on Friday, on Monday, the TRC chair summoned another meeting of paramount rulers from the 18 local government areas. Out of the 18, 13 paramount rulers attended the meeting and he briefed them about what happened, how the SA insulted him; how he is not loyal to him and all of that.
"He even wrote a petition that the governor should replace the SA Chieftaincy Affairs. Twelve of the Paramount Rulers signed the petition, while one from Biase refused to sign because he said he did not see anything wrong that the Special Adviser has done. He said the SA's refusal to attend a meeting for introduction was not enough reason to call for his removal. He gave stipends to those who attended the meeting."
Meanwhile, all efforts to reach the Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, to hear his side of the story, via repeated phone calls, proved abortive. When contacted, the SA Chieftaincy Affairs refrained, saying he does not have the authorisation from his principal the governor to do so. "I cannot deny or affirm your questions", Otuekong Frank Edet said.
