The Etamkpini Qua Clan in Odukpani Local Council of Cross River State, Nigeria, has finally found peace after years of uncertainty over its traditional leadership. The emergence of His Highness Sylvester Bassey Okon Eyo as the sole and uncontested Ntoe-Elect of the community has brought an end to the longstanding succession dispute. This development followed an arbitration process by the Qua Clans Constituted Assembly (QCCA) Arbitration Committee.
The arbitration process culminated in the formal presentation of Eyo at the Royal Court of the Ndidem’s Palace, Calabar. The ceremony, attended by traditional leaders and community members, witnessed the supreme ratification of the arbitration award by His Royal Majesty, Ndidem (Dr) Eta Bassey Eteta III, Ndidem of Qua Nation and Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality. The Chairman of the QCCA Arbitration Committee, His Highness Chief Patrick Agbor Okon Edem, presented the arbitration award and supreme ratification decree.
According to Chief Edem, the committee conducted hearings, examined native lineage registers, received sworn testimonies, and applied relevant laws to reach its decision. The final customary arbitration award was rendered on July 21, 2026. The committee confirmed Eyo as the sole and uncontested Ntoe-Elect of Etamkpini Qua Clan after the selection and reconciliation of all parties involved in the dispute.
The arbitration committee also declared any parallel executive committee, unauthorized council, or dissident group operating within the clan in defiance of royal stool protocol as illegal, null, and unrecognized, and dissolved them with immediate effect. This move aims to ensure peace and stability in the community.
His Royal Majesty, Ndidem (Dr) Eta Bassey Eteta III, commended the people of Etamkpini Qua for embracing a peaceful resolution to the dispute and praised the arbitration committee for its efforts. He congratulated Eyo on his emergence and urged him to lead with the fear of God and dispense justice without fear or favor.
In his response, Eyo thanked the people of Etamkpini for their peaceful approach to resolving the ancestral succession dispute and for the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to lead with the fear of God, uphold justice, and remain honest and fair in dealing with his subjects. Eyo described his emergence as the dawn of a new beginning for Etamkpini Qua and promised to pursue development and improve the wellbeing of the people.
Eyo, however, lamented the limited government presence in the community and appealed for the provision of basic infrastructure, including a health centre, school, potable water, and recreation centre. The acting Secretary of the clan, Maurice Edem Effiom Effiwat, thanked God for the restoration of peace and pledged the people’s support for the new monarch.
Key points
- The Qua Clans Constituted Assembly (QCCA) Arbitration Committee played a crucial role in resolving the succession dispute.
- The emergence of Sylvester Bassey Okon Eyo as the sole Ntoe-Elect has brought peace to the Etamkpini Qua Clan.
- The community lacks basic infrastructure, including a health centre, school, and potable water.
