By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar
CALABAR — Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has ordered the immediate suspension of an ongoing Clan and Village Creation exercise in the state, declaring that the process was neither authorised nor approved by his administration.
The directive was conveyed in a statement by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ededem Ani, who said the Governor’s attention had been drawn to the exercise being conducted by the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs.
Ani said the exercise “was neither authorised nor approved by his office,” stressing that it “does not carry the imprimatur of the State Government, and cannot be allowed to continue or to be given any further effect.”
The Attorney-General said the government’s decision was also informed by a pending legal action before the High Court of Cross River State, Calabar.
He quoted the Governor as directing that all activities connected with the exercise, including the processing, verification or publication of any Clan or Village Creation List, be terminated immediately.
The statement read: “No further steps be taken by your office or any officer under your supervision towards the creation, recognition or conferment of Clan or Village status on any community pending further directive from the government.”
The directive further reiterated that the Governor’s approval remained a mandatory prerequisite for any clan or village creation exercise in the state.
It warned that “no Clan or Village Creation exercise may be embarked upon by your office, or any officer under its supervision, without the prior approval of His Excellency the Governor.”
Ani consequently directed the Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs to treat the Governor’s order with “the seriousness it deserves” and ensure “strict and immediate compliance.”
The development underscores the administration’s position that processes relating to the recognition and administrative status of communities must be undertaken within the framework of lawful governmental authority.
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