By Solomon Azu
The lingering leadership and succession dispute of Etamkpini Qua Clan in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria has been laid to rest as Qua Clans Constituted Assembly (QCCA) Arbitration Committee presented His Highness Sylvester Bassey Okon Eyo as the sole, uncontested Ntoe-Elect of the clan.
The formal presentation was made on Saturday, at the Royal Court of Ndidem’s Palace, Calabar, during a historic ceremony for supreme ratification by His Royal Majesty, Ndidem (Dr.) Eta Bassey Eteta III, Ndidem of Qua Nation; Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality.
Delivering the Arbitration Award and Supreme Ratification Decree, Chairman of QCCA Arbitration Committee, His Highness, Chief Patrick Agbor Okon Edem said the committee sat to hear, evaluate and permanently determine long-standing customary headship dispute, conducting rigorous hearings, auditing native lineage registers, receiving sworn testimonies and applying Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023, Cross River State Traditional Rulers Law and Qua Native Law and Custom.
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He said final customary arbitration award was rendered on July 21, 2026, and Wednesday ceremony was for official reading and supreme ratification.
He said after the selection and reconciliation of all the parties in the exercise, the committee confirmed His Highness Sylvester Bassey Okon Eyo as sole, uncontested Ntoe-Elect of Etamkpini Qua Clan
The committee chairman said any parallel executive committee, unapproved council or dissident group operating within Etamkpini Qua Clan in defiance of Royal Stool protocol was declared illegal, null and unrecognized and dissolved with immediate effect.
In his remark, His Royal Majesty, Ndidem (Dr.) Eta Bassey Eteta III, commended Etamkpini Qua community for the peaceful resolution of the disagreement and the arbitration committee for a job well done.
While congratulating Sylvester Bassey Okon Eyo for emerging as the new clan head of Etamkpini, he charged him to lead his people with the fear of God and without fear or favour in dispensation of justice.
“As the custodian of the tradition and customs of the people, you must always be honest in dealing with your subjects, carry them along in the affairs of the community and ensure that peace, law and order reign in the community at all times, the Ndidem advised.
Responding, the new Clan head of Etamkpini Qua Clan, Ntoe Sylvester Bassey Okon Eyo thanked the people of Etamkpini for the peaceful resolution of the ancestral succession dispute and the confidence reposted on him.
He promised to lead his people with the fear of God, dispense justice without fear or favour and always be honest in dealing with his people.
Ntoe Eyo who described his ascension to the throne of Etamkpini as dawn of a new beginning, promised to attract the much desired development to the community
While decrying the non availability of government presence in the community, he appealed for the provision of basic infrastructure such as health center, school, portable water, recreation center to give them a sense of belonging.
Also speaking at the event, the acting Secretary of the clan Mr Maurice Edem Effiom Effiwat thanked God for restoring peace and pledged total support for the monarch on behalf of his people.
