The Paramount Ruler of Bakassi and Chairman of the Cross River state Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Etiyin Etim Edet, has urged politicians in the LGA to see a recent Supreme Court Judgement which ordered INEC to delineate Bakassi as a victory for all the people Bakassi and not for a section.
In a personal letter to his subjects which was copied to CrossRiverWatch, the Monarch called for peace and cooperation.
FULL TEXT OF LETTER
My Dear Bakassi People And Well Wishers,
“It is indeed shocking that some Bakassi politicians with devious intentions have started to formulate a position that is alien to the judgment recently delivered by the Supreme Court.
“For the records, let me make some clarifications:
(a) The Court said law No. 7 is valid and has not been challenged in court.
(b) The state Assembly can only adjust internal boundaries.
(c). The Cross River State House of Assembly has no power to create constituencies which implies that the three new wards created in Akpabuyo are null and void.
“Therefore Ikang North, Ikang Central and Ikang South are to remain in Akpabuyo LGA.
(d) It is only INEC that has the power to create constituencies. That the state cannot compel INEC to conduct elections in its created wards.
(e) That’s why the Supreme Court allowed the appeal of INEC and sets aside the decisions of the lower courts.
In my opinion, what we should be bothered about is: What were the prayers of INEC than misinforming the public when judgement is in the public domain?
“The Court only ordered INEC to go back and do the needful which INEC had already done by delineating Dayspring 1, 2 and Qua Island.
“We should remember that INEC went to court to defend what it did in Dayspring and not otherwise.
“The issue now is, having adjusted the internal boundary (which the CRS Assembly did) by the powers conferred on it by the Constitution, INEC can now add the three wards of Akpabuyo earlier mentioned above to the 10 wards at Dayspring earlier delineated by it to make it 13 wards with 2 state constituencies: Bakassi 1 (for the riverine) and Bakassi 2 (for the mainland) – all for peaceful settlement, with Headquarters remaining in Ikang.
“Let’s adopt the principle of ‘no victor, no vanquished’, and continue with the principle of rotation or zoning of the Chairmanship of the Local Government.
“The Traditional Rulers are together, solid and rugged. Why not the politicians?
“I was at the Supreme Court and I plead that we allow brotherly love to prevail and all moral and social virtues should continue to cement us. As long as there is life, there should be hope. Unity will bring the desired progress.
PARAMOUNT RULER OF BAKASSI
