CALABAR—EKORINIM Community in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross River State, has disowned the Village Head of Ekpo Abasi Royal Council clan, Mr. Bassey Etim and his deputy Mr. Effiong Asuquo, for allegedly imposing themselves on the people and selling several hectares of community land, used as cemetery.
Meanwhile, the Calabar Municipal council has written the General Manager of the state owned Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, CRBC, informing him that Chief Nyong Ekpo is the authentic village head-elect of Ekorinim village under Obutong clan of the municipality.
The community, which briefed newsmen, yesterday in Calabar, lamented that the duo sold communal land to senior officers in the State Security Service, Army, Navy and Police, which had made it impossible for them to recover the land.
Spokesperson of the community and Secretary of Ekorinim Village council, Mr Bassay Asuquo, said, “We wish to clarify the issue of imposition of Mr. Etim and Mr. Nyong as village head and Deputy village head.”
The people claimed that the Ekpo Abasi royal clan council had no locus standi to meddle into the chieftaincy matters or in management of day to day affairs of the Ekorinim community and going by a court judgment, that clearly defined the rightful ownership of the land, that they would resist any attempt by Ekpo Abasi Royal Clan council to destabilise their peaceful community.
They urged the public to discountenance the purported announcement in the media concerning the certification and alleged imposition of Mr. Etim and Mr. Asuquo as village head and deputy village head of Ekorinim community respectively, adding, “Whosoever has land transaction with aforementioned surrogate village head and deputy village head, do so at his or her own risk.”
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