Ayade dethrones monarch for supporting PDP
Ben Ayade, the governor of Cross
Ben Ayade, the governor of Cross River, has dethroned a monarch linked to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The affected monarch, Muri Professor Itam Hogan Itam, is the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South Local government area. Itam had allegedly attended a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Southern Senatorial District caucus gathering.
He was at the gathering where the party’s governorship aspirant, Authur Jarvis, emerged.
In a letter forwarded to Itam, Ayade said the government had withdrawn its recognition of Itam, in order to allow him participate in politics fully.
The monarch was directed to surrender his certificates of recognition to the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs, Governor’s Office, Calabar immediately.
The letter reads in part, “following the report of the panel set up by the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council (CRSTRC) and the approval of His Excellency, you have been removed as the village head, Clan head of Ukem and Paramount Ruler of Efuts with immediate effect, to enable you go ahead to do your partisan politics.
“You have, therefore, ceased to be so recognised and cannot operate as such forthwith”, the government said.
Meanwhile, the Efut Combined Assembly, the apex decision-making body, seems to have accepted the dethronement.
A release signed by the Secretary General of Efut Combined Assembly, Ndabu Dr Godwin Bassey, said the people of the area would present another candidate for the stool to the government.
