By Archibong Jeremiah
The Efut Combined Assembly, ECA has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner, intrigues and pace at which the State Government under Senator Liyel Imoke’s administration, handled the kingship tussle between the dislodged Muri Munene and Prof. Hogan Ita.
This position was revealed exclusively to CrossRiverWatch by the Secretary General of ECA, His Royal Highness, Ndabu (Dr.) Godwin Bassey recently where he asserted that part of their dismay is that since a Federal High Court in Calabar issued a MANDAMUS in early 2013, that the government should publish the report of the administrative panel of enquiry it set up to investigate the issues surrounding the kingship tussle between the two contenders as reported by CrossRiverWatch on July 06, 2013 Calabar High Court Orders Government To Publish Report On Efut Kingship Tussle, nothing has been done.
His words: “You see, that is the recklessness of the government, up till today, as we are talking they have not published the report, rather than that the government is appealing against the judgment. I wonder what kind of appeal in a matter you have set up an administrative panel of enquiry, we are saying publish the report for several months it wasn’t and we went to court to plead with you to publish it because you used task payers money to do it and my precious time as well as others.
“We expect the result, however, the previous government decided to appeal against the judgment that clearly shows to my mind bias, we are not asking you to do anything outside what you have done, publish the report which is statutory. To crown it all, earlier when you were inaugurating the Committee you said you will abide by the decisions and findings of the Committee, they have given you recommendations and result, why not abide by your words to publish it.
“From what is happening, I believe that if the result of the Committee is what government wants they would have published it. But since the people did their job as honest and with God’s fear, maybe they asked the panel to do something which they didn’t, I’m just thinking aloud.”, he was quick to say with a big smile.
He reiterated that the Efut Combined Assembly which is the statutory body to crown any Efut King had long ago crowned Muri Effiong Mbukpa as the Muri Munene of Efuts and that stands, he said with a firm foot to the ground.
While appealing with Governor Ayade to give the Staff of Office to the Muri Effiong Mbukpa, he further revealed that his government hasn’t taken any concrete step to their knowledge, in addressing the issue.
“When some elements visited the Deputy Governor as I learnt, he said government is looking into the matter and very soon they will make their pronouncement, so far I’ve not been invited as well as those involved by government but I know there are several court judgments in favor of Muri Munene Effiong Mbukpa Okon and some matters pending in the Appeal Court”.
He seized the occasion to congratulate the new Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Uguru Usani and the President for deeming it fit to appoint a Cross Riverian to such sensitive position.
He beckoned the new Minister to use his office and do something about the dredging of Calabar water ways and the East-West.
Concluding he said: “I plead with Cross Riverians to encourage our leaders; the stage we are now is not to pull down our people in power but to encourage them for the overall interest of the State”.