Subjects Chase King Out of Palace in Ogoja Over Building of Mortuary.
Consequently, Ntol Akpalfa has fled his palace to an unknown destination for two weeks running which some of his cabinet members have taken refuge in neighboring clans.
An interim administration to run the affairs of community is to be set up by the Nkim Kingdom following the abdication of the throne by His Royal Majesty.
eThe abdication followed an invasion of his palace by his irate subjects culminating in the destruction of his two cars and vandalizing his palace as well as sparing not the abodes of his cabinet members. To that end, while the where about of the Ntol is unknown except his close associates, other members of his cabinet have taken refuge in neigbouring clans, particularly Agboja and Ishiborr.
The incident which happened about two weeks now is sequel to the construction of a mortuary which was also to sell caskets, still abhorred in this Nkim sub-kingdom, was vehemently opposed but to no avail from the palace. The mortuary which is on kilometer 1, Ogoja/Calabar highway and was also not spared by the irate citizens, is owned by one Ibo business man -Emeka.
While the Nkim kingdom had asked the police to keep its distance as the matter was a traditional issue, it summoned a meeting of its elders with the aggrieved community on May 13, 2017 being Saturday at Ndok village square to hear its side of the story.
Remote causes of the incident were listed as follows:
- The Ntol and his cabinet had gotten bribed and stood firmly behind the herdsmen whose cattle were destroying farms to render most of them helpless in their effort to survive, despite attempts to forge a common front against these “selfish enemies” of survival, out of their land.
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- Land being sold by the Ntol and his cabinet with the proceeds being pocketed by them instead for the development of the general.
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- Land being snatched from the indigenes and resold to stranger elements for higher prices.
- Refusal of the Ntol to be changing his land and executive members as if they were appointed for life.
- The area – Igoli Abur reserved for Ndok youth settlement now being parceled out to strangers to the detriment of viable youth were increasing in their numbers.
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- Women never consulted, for any reason, on issues boardering on the welfare of the community.
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- Stranger elements converting their leased plots for farming instead of developing it as contained in the land lease agreement.
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- While indigenes are restricted to a few number of plots, those of strangers were unlimited, among others.
The immediate cause of the revolt which brought the matter to a head was the mortuary construction on the piece of land the people called: *Ngel Abakal - Women Reproduction. According to a woman spokesperson, women efforts and that of the youth to have audience with their Ntol on the issue failed as the Ntol snubbed them. She said this was the last resort as several representation to the Ntol warning him that Ndok would not condone the sitting of a mortuary on any piece of land in the clan.
Rather, she continued, money was sent to them and the youth to buy their resolve which they rebuffed. This then followed an ultimatum of seven days to the Ntol to direct stoppage of activities at the mortuary site or face the consequence. This was not heeded and had to climax in the present outcome with the mortuary signboard being uprooted and repositioned in front of the Not’s palace.
Before a meeting of the two parties, the Nkim people under the Nkim Development Union, NDU resolved to set up, with minimum delay an interim administration, with representatives from all the six units of Ndok – Ndok Iteg, Ngirima, Aminika, Njaria, Ukende Ndok and Igol Aburr.
Notable personalities at the crucial assembly were the Ntol Ikun of Nkimkol – Ntol Edward Igbaji, Chief George Nsor Ibembem – Clan Head of Ikajo/Ukamusha , Chief Lazarus Mogbe from Ndok, Chief Ajiji from Aroboje – Agboja, Elder Ushang Imoh from Ishiborr , among others.
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