Maintain Peace In Your Domain Or Lose Your Certificate Of Recognition, Otu Warns Royal Fathers

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 peace breaks down in their domains.

Otu gave the warning on Monday while speaking at the 21st edition of the Leboku International New Yam Festival at the Yakurr Peace Stadium, Ugep, where he condemned the recent communal conflict between Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr Local Government Area.

The governor described the violence, which reportedly resulted in loss of lives, as a “show of shame”, saying communal conflicts could undermine the peace, tourism and economic development of the state.

He said the government had considered cancelling the 2026 Leboku festival following the conflict, but decided against the move because doing so could undermine the festival’s fundamental objective of promoting peace, unity and brotherhood among the Yakurr people.

“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.

He urged the traditional institution to take greater responsibility for maintaining peace, particularly in the aftermath of the Ugep-Idumi crisis.

Addressing the Obol Lopon of Ugep and the Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, Otu questioned why the crisis was allowed to escalate despite the traditional institution’s responsibility to maintain peace.

He acknowledged that Eteng’s 11-year reign had largely been peaceful and impactful, but urged him to do more to control his subjects and prevent future 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,” he said.

The governor reminded village heads, clan heads, paramount rulers and other recognised traditional authorities that maintaining peace and preserving the customs and traditions of their people were among their primary responsibilities.

He warned that the state government would sanction traditional rulers whose domains 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,” Otu said.

The governor also announced that the state government would not recognise any of the rival factions involved in the leadership crisis in Agoi Ibami, another community in Yakurr LGA.

The declaration followed an appeal by the Obol Lopon Advisory Council, through its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Azikiwe Williams, for government intervention in the dispute.

Williams said two persons had reportedly been presented as Chief and Clan Head of Agoi Ibami on the same day, creating tension in the community.

Responding, Otu said: “The Cross River State Government will not recognise any of the camps of the two people who are parading themselves presently in Agoi Ibami.”

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.

Otu said the theme of the 2026 festival, “Rooted in Culture, Growing in Prosperity,” was consistent with his administration’s efforts to use agriculture and culture as drivers of economic growth and employment.

He said Leboku had evolved beyond a traditional harvest celebration into a cultural and economic platform capable of attracting tourists, investors and development opportunities to Cross River.

The governor linked the festival’s agricultural heritage to his administration’s “green economic revolution”, saying the government was working to move farmers from subsistence production to commercially viable agriculture.

He said government had supported farmers through mechanisation, tractors, agricultural equipment, revolving loans and other interventions.

“Through the mechanised system of agriculture enabled by my administration, through the provision of tractors, ploughing machines and other machinery, enterprises have been moved from subsistence to large-scale farming with attendant access to markets. This translates into increased farming income,” he said.

Otu also disclosed that his administration had recently unveiled a public-private partnership investment package valued at $70 billion, with about $1.5 billion earmarked for agriculture-related investments.

He listed rice value-chain development, fishery, dairy production, trawler fishing and oil palm development among the areas targeted under the investment programme.

Earlier, the Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, Hon. Yibala Inyang, described the festival as a celebration of gratitude, culture, unity and economic opportunity.

Inyang said Leboku, which originated as a thanksgiving for the first yam harvest, had evolved into an international cultural event with implications for tourism, agriculture and economic development.

He commended the state government and other stakeholders for sustaining the festival, saying the event had become an avenue for promoting Cross River and attracting Yakurr indigenes from within and outside Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the Obol Lopon Advisory Council, Williams commended Governor Otu for his administration’s infrastructure projects in Yakurr and appealed for further development of rural communities.

He specifically called for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Ugep Peace Stadium, including the provision of a standby generating set.

Williams also appealed to the state government to extend the signal of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) to Yakurr.

He said poor CRBC signal coverage had denied residents access to government programmes, information and other public-interest broadcasts.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Obi Ayuk Offor, said the state government was committed to strengthening Leboku as a major tourism attraction.

Offor described the festival as an expression of Yakurr’s cultural identity, ancestral heritage and communal values.

He said the ministry was working to improve tourist attractions in Yakurr, including the clean-up of the Yakurr waterfall, while encouraging visitors to explore the area beyond the festival period.

The commissioner identified the area’s waterfalls, natural landscapes, heritage sites, music, dance, arts and traditions as tourism assets capable of contributing to the state’s economy.

He urged residents to maintain peace and hospitality, stressing that tourism could only thrive in a stable and welcoming environment.