King Alfred Spiff Suspended from TROMPCON

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The former Governor of old Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diete Spiff, has been suspended indefinitely as a member of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON) over activities inimical to the body.

By the suspension, King Spiff has also been barred from parading himself with the title of the National Life Patron of TROMPCON.

Members of TROMPCON took the decision to suspend Spiff at an emergency general meeting of the National Executive Council held at the palace of the National Chairman, HRM, Owong Effiong Archianga in Ibeno Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State.

A resolution adopted at the end of the meeting stressed that his readmission into the body if necessary shall be dependent on his remorsefulness and the prerogative of the National Conference of TROMPCON.

The body noted that the activities of King Spiff had been an embarrassment to the Oba of Benin in particular and TROMPCON in general.

According to the body, “the disqualification of Spiff came on the strength of Article three (3) sub- section two (2)c of TROMPCON Constitution which provides that ‘a member shall be liable for disqualification if his activities are not in consonance with the principle and objectives of TROMPCON’.

The body noted with dismay what they described as the conscious but deplorable attempt by HRM King Spiff to create unwarranted confusion in TROMPCON by embarking on anti-TROMPCON activities.

King Spiff, it was stated “abandoned the high level of regard he is held and tried to denigrate the highly revered stool of the Oba of Benin using the name of TROMPCON.”

Part of the resolution reads: “That at no time or forum did Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria mandate or authorise HRM King Alfred Diete Spiff to go fishing for a new National Chairman for TROMPCON.

“There was absolutely no need for such venture because the succession mechanism in TROMPCON is self-regulatory. TROMPCON expresses regret over the embarrassment King Alfred Diete Spiff brought to the esteemed stool of Oba of Benin and Traditional Rulers of oil Mineral Producing communities of Nigeria.”

The body frowned on the unilateral conduct of HRM King Spiff as published in the media “to which he brazenly owned up, which is to say the least ignoble, pedestrian and ingratiating”.

“That HRM king Alfred Spiff was accorded fair hearing to defend or justify his conduct during the National Conference held on 24th August 2017. He spurned the opportunity and chose the option of grandstanding. TROMPCON directed HRM King Alfred Spiff to tender an immediate unreserved apology to TROMPCON and the Oba of Benin respectively”, the body added.

It observed that instead of HRM King Spiff to retract his statements in the media, he rather rebuffed the directives of the National Conference of TROMPCON.

The TROMPCON members said they stand by the new National Executive members of the body led by the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno, HRM Owong Effiong Archianga, as there was no leadership crisis in TROMPCON.

Meanwhile, the immediate past Chairman of TROMPCON, the Paramount Ruler of Mgibirichi/Abakuru Land, HRM Eze Akuwueze Ikegwuruka II, in an interview, noted that the election of the HRM Owong Archianga as the National chairman of the body followed the longstanding succession mechanism of electing new National officers of TROMPCON.

He said the succession mechanism was evidenced in TROMPCON’s organogram and its Constitution.

“In this case, Cross River state was to produce the National Chairman. They felt that they don’t have the material to present to the National body as the National chairman. “

They went into an agreement with Akwa Ibom State which was communicated to the National and approved by the National. Based on that, a new National Chairman emerged from Akwa Ibom State.

“So, there is no leadership dispute in TROMPCON except there is a mischief maker trying to cause problem where there is none. The National Chairman, Owong Effiong Archianga was duly elected and sworn-in in an open National Conference of TROMPCON. Let it be on record that we have no leadership crisis”, the monarch stated.

Those who signed the resolution included the National Chairman of TROMPCON, HRM Owong Archianga, National Life Patron of TROMPCON, (Imo State), HRM Eze Akuwueze Ikegwuruka, National Deputy Chairman Zone III, (Cross River), HRM Etinyin Okon Edem, National Secretary, (Ondo State), HRM Oba Obafemi Ogbaro, National Welfare Secretary, (Delta State), HRM, Bosu Ayamabulou I.

Others were National Financial Secretary, (Abia State), HRM Eze Nwagbara; National Publicity Secretary, (Imo State), HRM Eze Herbert Azubuike; National Legal Adviser, (Akwa Ibom), HRM Eteubom Samuel Efik; former National Secretary, (Akwa Ibom), HRM Edidem Udo Ntukobom; Chapter Chairman, (Imo State), HRM Eze Okwodu; Chapter Chairman, (Abia State), HRH Eze Agu; Chapter Chairman, (Akwa Ibom), HRM, E.C.D Abia; former National PRO, (Rivers State) Rep, HRM Suanu Baridam, and former National Welfare Secretary, (Akwa Ibom State), HRH Boniface Ekanem.