By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
Three days after the Cross River State House of Assembly sacked the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Etinyin Okon Edet, for overstaying his tenure, Governor Bassey Otu has dissolved the Council of Chiefs.
The dismissed HRM, Etinyin Okon Edet, who is the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi, is said to have exceeded his two years term to ten years; an issue that threw the council into crisis.
Governor Otu approved the dissolution of the council in a press release signed and issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Owan-Eboh
He said the action is in pursuant to section 4(1) of the Council of Chiefs Law of Cross River State, 2004, at the expiration of the tenure.
Otu thanked the chairman and members of the dissolved council for their meritorious services to the State and wished them the best in their continuing roles as Traditional Rulers in their respective domains.
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The release reads “His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, has approved the immediate dissolution of the State Council of Chiefs. The action of the Governor is made pursuant to Section 4(1) of the Council of Chiefs Law, Cap. C15, Laws of Cross River State 2004.
“Accordingly, the tenure of the Council had since lapsed. It will also be recalled that the State House of Assembly recently passed a Resolution for the change of the leadership of the Council of Chiefs, who had overstayed his term of office.
“The Governor appreciates the Chairman and Members of the dissolved Council of Chiefs for their meritorious services to the State and wishes them the best in their continuing roles as Traditional Rulers in their respective domains.”