SENATE PRESIDENT:  Traditional Stool, Not Politics

By Sammy Etuk Jnr

Traditional Stool, Not Politics

Most times, leaders should obtain the right briefing before making sensitive public statements. Ill-informed pronouncements on traditional leadership can create unnecessary divisions among communities. There is need to exercise restraint and understand the historical implications of public statements.

A statement attributed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has stirred an uproar over traditional institutions in the area. The initial reactions came from Paramount Rulers in Calabar Municipality before attracting responses from other parts of northern Cross River State.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT

“We remain one, and we recognise the Obong of Calabar as the Foremost Traditional Ruler in the whole of Akwa Ibom and Cross River. In Cross River and Akwa Ibom, this happens to be the only Treaty King.”

The controversy has revived long-standing disputes over the historical standing, recognition and jurisdiction of customary rulership in the two states.

A related disagreement occurred during the administration of Colonel Paul Ofuoma Omu, Military Administrator of Cross River State between 1975 and 1978. His administration responded swiftly to stem the unnecessary misunderstandings. This led to the approval of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council Edict No. 4 of 1978, through which the State Executive Council endorsed the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council. Section 1(4) provided for a rotational chairmanship with a two-year tenure. The Guardian reported on this council decision on 11 June 2024.

Until the 1978 changes, the traditional heads in the former mainland part of Cross River State were known as Clan Heads. The 1978 Edict conferred on them the designation of Paramount Rulers. Each ruler was recognised as the traditional head of his respective area, exercising his position within his own domain.

Traditional Rulers Edict No. 14 of 1978 was introduced to further streamline territorial control and define the respective areas of jurisdiction of traditional rulers in Calabar Municipality. It recognised three distinct Paramount Rulerships: the Obong of Calabar, representing the Efik; the Ndidem of the Quas, representing the Qua; and the Muri Munene of the Efuts, representing the Efut. Each retained its own customary rulership and area of authority. This distinction was important because Edict No. 4 of 1978 had established the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, while Edict No. 14 further clarified the territorial jurisdictions of the recognised traditional authorities. Although enacted in 1978, Edict No. 14 was published in the Nigerian Chronicle on 5 January 1979.

The implementation of Traditional Rulers Edict No. 14 of 1978 led to disagreement in Calabar Municipality. Two traditional rulers protested against what they considered the elevation of the Obong of Calabar above the other traditional rulers, arguing that the council decision had not been implemented as intended. The dispute extended to other parts of Cross River State, including Ogoja, Ugep, Ikom and Obubra, causing unrest in the affected areas. This showed the need for careful implementation of the council decision and respect for the traditional positions recognised under it.

Chief Udo Udo Okorouen served as Chairman of the Cross River State Executive Council from 1975 to 1979, during the administrations of Colonel Paul Ofuoma Omu and Navy Captain Babatunde Elegbede. His position placed him at the centre of the state’s executive affairs, with responsibilities similar to those of a Deputy Governor. In the council, matters concerning customary rulership were part of his responsibility.

At the inauguration of the Traditional Rulers’ Council in Calabar Municipality in June 1978, Okorouen stated:

“One thing I wish to emphasize at this stage is that all Paramount Rulers in the state are equal before the Government and are held with high esteem by their respective communities.”

The 1979 council resolution addressed the outstanding disagreements over traditional rulership in Calabar consequent upon the review undertaken by the commission. None was placed above the others as the head on account of any historical treaty. The treaty discourse was a contrivance of the colonial administration, which sought to use it to place one traditional ruler above the others, even though such an arrangement had no place in the indigenous customs and traditional system of the area. Historically, the relationship among these traditional rulers centred on each maintaining his own domain, without domination by another.

A different arrangement applied to the former mainland part of Cross River State. The traditional institutions in this area were distinct from those in Calabar Municipality and northern Cross River State. For this reason, a Conference of Traditional Rulers comprising the ten Paramount Rulers was formed. The participating Local Government Areas were Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene, Ikono, Itu, Oron, Ukanafun and Uyo. The conference provided a common forum for consultation and the management of their collective affairs, without diminishing the position of individual Paramount Rulers within their respective domains.

Under Edict No. 4 of 1978, members were empowered to elect their leadership. Obong Sampson Udo Idiong of Abak was elected pioneer chairman of the Conference of Traditional Rulers in 1978, while Obong Akpan Nsubong II, the newly elevated Paramount Ruler of Etinan, served as secretary.

His Majesty Obong Cosmos Akpan, Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene, is the only surviving Paramount Ruler from 1978 who can confirm the council resolution and the implementation of the Edict.

Akwa Ibom State has its own historical foundations and recognised traditional leadership arrangements. The Oku Ibom Ibibio, as the supreme council of Ibibio traditional rulers, occupies an important position in the traditional affairs of the Ibibio people. Its historical origin, institutional standing and position deserve recognition within the traditional leadership of Akwa Ibom State.

The Obong of Calabar, the Ndidem of the Quas and the Muri Munene of the Efuts each have distinct historical foundations, traditional identities and recognised standing. Akwa Ibom State also has institutions of similar standing, including the Ahta Oro of Oron and the Itai Afe Annang of Annang land, among others. Each has its own history and identity, deserving recognition and respect.

Traditional institutions should remain outside partisan political controversies. Their responsibilities transcend political parties, electoral contests and the changing fortunes of political officeholders. As custodians of community history, customary law and cultural identity, they deserve protection from political interference and public statements that could undermine their standing.

Political leaders must exercise restraint when addressing traditional institutions. Matters of traditional leadership are best handled through recognised traditional and legal processes, with public pronouncements guided by historical records and relevant law, respecting the standing of the rulers concerned.

The traditional rulers of Akwa Ibom and Cross River have maintained cordial relations through mutual recognition, consultation and respect for their respective domains. Their continued cooperation is important to peaceful coexistence and harmonious relations between the two states.