By Frank Edima
Members of Ikang Ita Traditional Rulers Council (IITRC) have accused the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) in Bakassi LGA of highhandedness.
The accusation was levelled on Wednesday after the traditional rulers were tactically denied access to the Council’s event center for their usual monthly meeting.
According to the Ikang Ita Traditional Rulers Council President and Esighi Clan Head, His Royal Highness Etinyin Ene Ene Bassey Eyo, “…the Council administration is aware of our monthly meetings. We even called the custodian of the key, one Mr. Umoh who is also a Director at the Council, early this morning to remind him of our meeting so that he can give us access as usual but unfortunately, we came here and are stranded.
“We even called him again but he kept on assuring us that we will have access until now the person he sent with the key hasn’t come…”
On his part, the Secretary of the union, Chief Antigha Cobham, said the meeting was supposed to start at 10:00am but they have been waiting until 12:30pm. He encouraged members not to be worried as they will start the meeting outside the auditorium so that their coming out for the meeting will not be in vain.
Arising from the meeting, the Ikang Ita Traditional Rulers Council (IITRC) in Bakassi resolved to embark on massive enlightenment campaign to ensure that its indigenes become aware of the need to register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).
The IITRC President, His Royal Highness (HRH) Etinyin Ene Ene Bassey Eyo, emphasized that “the mobilization for PVC registration and collection is not for political reasons but an action to mobilize people for polls and to participate in voting during elections.”
He maintained that the various Clan Heads and Village Heads present were enlightened on how to mobilize their community members.
Part of the strategy adopted was sharing of publicity materials which include cardboards that carried inscriptions like “GO GET YOUR PVC.”
Ikang Ita Traditional Rulers Council is a forum for all traditional rulers across the three wards of Ikang where the new Bakassi is located and made up 85 villages under the seven Clans in Ikang Ita have three representatives each which include the Village Heads, Youth Leaders and Women Leaders.