By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Càlabar
Mbume blocks of clans traditional rulers in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State yesterday opposed the legitimacy of acting paramount ruler, HRM, Ntufam Ntui Anthony-Etta, stressing that the nomenclature “acting”paramount ruler is strange and unconstitutional.
The monarchs stated this in a resolution made available to our news desk at the end of an emergency town hall meeting, which held at Abia community on July 11, 2024.
The resolution, issued by the Mbume traditional rulers compromising of Abia, Bendeghe Ekiem and Etomi communities signed by six monarchs of the blocks of clans, urged the Ajassor monarch, HRM, Ntufam Ntui-Etta, to refrain from parading himself as acting paramount ruler.
The traditional rulers stated that any individual parading himself as acting paramount ruler, other than Ntufam Dr Oru Ojong, of Abia community in the local council is fake, adding that the word “acting” is alien to the traditional stool.
They said, “His adoption of “acting paramount ruler” is both foreign and unknown to the Cross River Traditional Rulers Edit 14 of l1978.”
The traditional rulers maintained that though thier paramount ruler Ntufam Dr Oru Ojong, was suspended sometimes ago, and reinstated via a court process in suit No.suit No. HC/96/2022 of March 23, 2023, adding that “Fired by a deepening sense of indignation and disgust, we have, of compelling necessity, resolved to denounce and shun Clan Head Anthony Ntui Etta of Ajassor Community in Etung Local Government Area with immediate effect.
“He is not our paramount ruler, rather Oru Ojong of Abia community remains our paramount ruler.
“We automatically invalidates any fictitious chieftaincy title he had arrogates to himself; since his adopted title of ‘acting paramount ruler’.”
But in a swift reaction to the issue, in a telephone interaction, the acting paramount ruler of Etung, Ntufam Anthony Ntui-Etta, said, “I am not an acting paramount ruler, I am paramount ruler-elect of Etung. I don’t know what prompted them to do so. That is their own issue.
“I won two of the members of Mbume blocks of clans in a contest.”
