By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Ugep
Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has warned traditional rulers across the state that they risk losing their certificates of recognition if violence and disorder are allowed to take root in their domains.
Otu issued the warning on Monday at the 21st edition of the Leboku International New Yam Festival at the Yakurr Peace Stadium, Ugep, where he charged the traditional institution to take greater responsibility for preserving peace, customs and communal cohesion.
The governor’s warning came against the backdrop of the recent violent clash between Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr Local Government Area, which reportedly claimed lives. He described the conflict as a “show of shame” capable of damaging Yakurr’s reputation and undermining tourism and economic development.
Otu specifically challenged the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, to explain why the crisis was allowed to escalate despite the traditional institution’s role in maintaining peace among the people.
He acknowledged that Eteng’s 11-year reign had largely been peaceful and impactful, but urged the traditional ruler to exercise greater authority over his subjects and prevent a recurrence of the violence.
“Your 11 years of reign on the throne of your forefathers have so far been peaceful and impactful. What went wrong beyond your control this time? As the head of the entire Yakurr nation, you must control your subjects,” Otu said.
The governor said the state government had contemplated cancelling this year’s Leboku festival because of the communal crisis but decided against it because the festival itself was founded on values of peace, unity, brotherhood and cultural identity.
He warned that village heads, clan heads, paramount rulers and other recognised traditional authorities would be held accountable where their communities became centres of violence.
“The state government will therefore not fail to withdraw the certificate of recognition from any royal father where there is a breakdown of peace in his domain. Tourism cannot thrive in a volatile and chaotic environment,” he said.
Otu also refused to recognise any of the rival factions involved in the leadership dispute in Agoi Ibami, another Yakurr community. He said government would only recognise a leader after the contending parties had resolved their differences and agreed on a person to represent the community.
The governor further announced a N50 million commitment towards the renovation and upgrading of the Ugep Peace Stadium, following an appeal by the traditional institution. The Obol Lopon Advisory Council had also requested a standby generating set for the facility.
Speaking through the Publicity Secretary of the Obol Lopon Advisory Council, Comrade Azikiwe Williams, the traditional institution appealed to Otu to extend the signal of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation to Yakurr. It said inadequate coverage had denied residents access to government programmes and public-interest information.
The council also urged the governor to extend road and other infrastructure projects to more Yakurr communities, particularly rural areas contributing significantly to the state’s agricultural and mineral resources.
The festival, themed “Rooted in Culture, Growing in Prosperity,” provided a platform for the governor to link Yakurr’s traditional heritage with his administration’s economic agenda. Otu said Leboku had grown beyond a harvest celebration into a cultural and tourism asset capable of attracting visitors, investment and economic opportunities.
He said his administration’s agricultural interventions, including tractors, mechanisation equipment and financing support, were aimed at moving farmers from subsistence production to commercially viable agriculture.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Obi Ayuk Offor, said government would continue to develop Yakurr’s cultural and natural attractions, including waterfalls, heritage sites, music, dance and traditional arts, as part of efforts to strengthen Cross River’s tourism economy.
For the traditional institution, however, the message from the festival was clear: the survival and growth of Yakurr’s cultural heritage depend not only on preserving its festivals and traditions but also on the ability of its royal fathers to maintain peace and unity among their subjects.
