In Part V, Section 30 of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Law, it is illegal for our revered Traditional Rulers to participate in partisan politics.
Take Particular Note Of Sub-section 1C And Sub-Section 3.
Following those provisions, the Speaker of the State Assembly should either amend the law to allow our monarchs to play politics or call the Governor to order and ask him to leave the traditional stools out of politics as our laws require.
Section 30: Withdrawal of Recognition.
(1) The Governor may withdraw official recognition from a Clan Head or a Village Head accorded official recognition under this Law or any other written law if the Governor is of the opinion that—
(a) the Clan Head or Village Head has not adequately performed the functions conferred upon him by subsection (1) or (2) of section 15 of this law and or by or under any other written law in force in the State or by reason of infirmity of body or mind, the Clan Head or Village Head is incapable of adequately performing those functions; or
(b) the withdrawal of official recognition is required by local customary law; or
(c) the Clan Head or the Village Head has been guilty of abuse of office; or
(d) the withdrawal of recognition is necessary in the interest of peace, order and good government.
(2) The Governor may withdraw recognition from a Paramount Ruler and president of a traditional council accorded official recognition under this law if the Governor is of the opinion that such Paramount Ruler and president—
(a) has not adequately performed the functions conferred upon him by section 29 of this law and or by or under any other written law in force in the State or, by reason of infirmity of body or mind, is incapable of adequately performing those functions; or
(b) has been guilty of abuse of office; or
(c) has ceased to be a Clan Head accorded official recognition.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “abuse of office” includes participation in partisan political activity, and in such case, withdrawal of recognition shall be mandatory.
Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo is the publisher of CrossRiverWatch and writes from Lagos State.
NOTE: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Agba Jalingo and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
Leave feedback about this