by By Elijah Ugani
The custodians of Calabar culture under the auspices of Calabar Municipality Traditional Rulers Council, on Wednesday protested the locking of their Secretariat, located within the premises of the local government council by the Chairman of council, Mr Efefiong Eta.
Speaking to journalists Infront of the traditional rulers council chambers, the Paramount ruler of Calabar Municipality, HRM Ita Etta, said his office was not communicated why their council hall was locked.
The custodian of the traditions of Calabar Municipality, said Clan Heads, Village Heads and other members of the council were billed to meet with the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, but discovered that their place of meetings was looked up, and wondered why such an action should be taken without regards to the traditional institution.
The monarch revealed that they had got an invitation from the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, candidate, Sen Sandy Onor, inviting them for meeting at 2:00pm, at their secretariat.
In his words, “We had received a notice from the PDP governorship candidate that he will meet with us (Traditional rulers) by 2pm in our Secretariat which is usually where we hold all our functions and activities.
“As you can see yourself, the Secretariat is locked up and the Chairman didn’t tell us why and you can see soldiers everywhere.”
When contacted, an authority in the council who pleaded anonymity said the Chairman of Council, Mr Efefiong Eta, gave an instruction this morning that the traditional rulers Secretariat should be locked up.
He also gave a directive that no meeting of whatever kind should take place in the Secretariat.
“I am working based on directive,” he stated
Asked if there was issue with the Secretariat, he said, “There is no issue here, the traditional rulers met here this month of January.”
The PDP governorship candidate has been campaigning round the 18 local government areas of the state, and is billed to conclude tour of the council areas with campaign in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality today Wednesday, January 25th 2023.
As part of the campaign schedule to the council areas, he meets with the traditional rulers of each council, holds stakeholders meeting before the rally in the area.
As at the time of filing this report, calls to the council chairman were not taken or retuned.
