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Ukorebi Esien | August 24, 2026
UGEP — Cross River State Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has warned traditional rulers in the state that they risk losing their certificates of recognition if communal crises persist in their domains.
Otu issued the warning on Monday at the 21st edition of the Leboku International New Yam Festival held at the Yakurr Peace Stadium, Ugep, where he condemned the recent violent clash between Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr Local Government Area.
The governor described the conflict, which reportedly led to loss of lives, as a “show of shame,” warning that communal violence could undermine the peace, tourism and economic development of Cross River State.
He said the state government had considered cancelling the 2026 Leboku festival following the crisis but decided against it because such a decision could undermine the festival’s core objective of promoting peace, unity and brotherhood among the people of Yakurr.
“I wish to condemn in entirety the recent inter-communal war between Ugep and Idumi communities, which led to the loss of precious lives. To the warring communities and other Yakurr communities which may have aligned with the combatants, I condemn this in its entirety. It was indeed a show of shame,” Otu said.
Addressing the traditional institution, the governor urged village heads, clan heads, paramount rulers and other recognised traditional authorities to take greater responsibility for maintaining peace and preserving the customs and traditions of their people.
He specifically challenged the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, to do more to prevent future conflicts.
Otu acknowledged that Eteng’s 11-year reign had largely been peaceful and impactful but questioned how the recent crisis was allowed to escalate.
“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,” he said.
The governor warned that the state government would no longer hesitate to sanction traditional rulers whose domains become 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 addressed the leadership crisis in Agoi Ibami, another community in Yakurr LGA, declaring that the government would not recognise any of the rival factions involved in the dispute.
The governor said government would only recognise a leader after the contending parties had resolved their differences and agreed on a person to represent the community.
Earlier, Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, Hon. Yibala Inyang, described Leboku as a celebration of gratitude, culture, unity and economic opportunity.
He said the festival, which originated as a thanksgiving for the first yam harvest, had grown into an international cultural event capable of promoting tourism, agriculture and economic development in the area.
Also speaking on behalf of the Obol Lopon Advisory Council, its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Azikiwe Williams, commended the state government for its interventions in Yakurr and appealed for further development of rural communities.
Williams called for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Ugep Peace Stadium and the provision of a standby generating set.
He also appealed to the state government to extend the signal of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) to Yakurr to enable residents access government programmes and public-interest information.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Obi Ayuk Offor, said the government was committed to strengthening Leboku as a major tourism attraction.
Offor said Yakurr possessed several tourism assets, including waterfalls, natural landscapes, heritage sites, music, dance, arts and traditional practices.
He disclosed that the ministry was working to improve some of the attractions, including the clean-up of the Yakurr waterfall, while encouraging visitors to explore the area beyond the annual festival.
The commissioner urged residents to maintain peace and hospitality, stressing that tourism could only flourish in a stable and welcoming environment.
Otu, in his remarks, also linked the festival’s theme, “Rooted in Culture, Growing in Prosperity,” to his administration’s efforts to use agriculture and culture as drivers of economic growth and employment.
He said his administration had supported farmers through mechanisation, tractors, agricultural equipment, revolving loans and other interventions aimed at moving farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
The governor further disclosed that Cross River had recently unveiled a public-private partnership investment package valued at $70 billion, with about $1.5 billion earmarked for agriculture-related investments covering areas such as rice production, fisheries, dairy, trawler fishing and oil palm development.
He maintained that sustaining peace remained critical to unlocking the economic potential of such investments and ensuring that cultural festivals such as Leboku continue to attract tourists, investors and development opportunities to the state.
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