Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has ordered that the certificate of recognition of Muri Munene of the Efut nation and paramount ruler of Calabar South, Itam Hogan Itam be withdrawn for attending and voting at a political party meeting, which was presided over by a former state governor, Donald Duke.
He was said to have allegedly contravened Section 30, Sub-section 3 of the Cross River State Traditional Edict No. 14 of 1978 by attending a meeting of Cross River State Southern Senatorial District Peoples Democratic Party caucus where a governorship candidate, Arthur Jarvis Archibong, was allegedly endorsed.
The paramount ruler of Bakassi Local Government Area and Chairman, CRS Traditional Rulers Council, Etinyin Edet, had advised that monarchs should avoid partisan politics.
The governor ordered the withdrawal of the monarch’s certificate of recognition in a letter addressed to the paramount ruler dated May 11, 2022 and signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Adoga Victor.