By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State House of Assembly, CRHA, has ordered the immediate arrest of the councilor representing Ajassor ward, in Etung Local Government Area of the state, Kingsley Agbor Ekuri, for gross misconduct and insubordination and threat to the peace of the council area.
The order was issued after the Etung Legislative Council announced Ekuri’s suspension.
Ekuri’s suspension was confirmed by the Assembly lawmakers after a hearing led by the member representing Bakassi in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Eyo Bassey, who doubles as chairman, Assembly Committee on Local Government.
Sources in Etung Local Government alledged that the embattled councillor Ekuri Agbor had altercation with the chairman of Etung Local Government over revenue allocation and also assaulted the Special Adviser to the council chairman on Security Matters, showing disrespect to the leader of the Etung Legislative Council.
After evidence presented to the House of Assembly leadership, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem announced the House resolution ordering the arrest and detention of the councillor pending when investigation would end for stabilizing peace in Ajassor and the council area.
Findings however revealed that the ward councillor was arrested shortly after the House resolution.
Reacting to the issue, human rights lawyer and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Barrister Obono Obla, condemned the interference of the leadership of state House of Assembly in the Etung Local Government council matter.
He declared, “The meddlesomeness of the House of Assembly into the affairs of local government councils in the state under the cloak of law making, is suffocating to say the least.
“I’m deeply concerned about the Cross River State House of Assembly’s recent actions.
“By ordering the arrest of an Etung Legislative Council member and suspending him, the Assembly is behaving more like a dictatorship than a representative body.
“Their power to regulate local government councils doesn’t justify treating the Etung Legislative Council as an appendage. I strongly condemn this undemocratic behavior.
“The local government areas are tiers of government and are so recognised by the Constitution and must therefore be given its independence and unfettered freedom to run its affairs.”
