Senator Bassey Otu, Cross River State Governor, has used this year’s annual Leboku festival to call for concerted efforts to achieve food security in the state.
He also used the event, which marks the annual celebration of the new yam harvest of the Yakurr people in the Central Senatorial District of the state, to commend the Obol Lopon of Ugep, HRM Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, for maintaining peace within his domain, as records have shown that since his enthronement as the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, inter-communal harmony, peace, and socio-economic development of the Yakurr people have increased.
The Governor expressed his gratitude through his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, who represented him at the 2024 International New Yam Festival with the theme “Community Mobilization for Sustainable Growth.”
Otu acknowledged successive state administrations’ deliberate initiative to use the Leboku festival to encourage food production and showcase the Yakurr people’s rich cultural endowments.
“My administration is poised to sustain the momentum of the event and even surpass its achievements.”
The Governor added that this administration is intentional in transitioning from subsistence to mechanized agricultural practice with the procurement of light and heavy duty machinery to enable small farm holders and agricultural entrepreneurs to embark on large-scale production of rice, cassava, oil palm, cocoa, and yams to ensure food security in the state.
Earlier, the Obol Lopon of Ugep, HRM, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, had received the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, and His entourage in his palace.
The Paramount Ruler expressed his appreciation and that of the Yakurr nation to the governor and members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, and other political office holders for gracing the occasion and for the sustained support the Leboku International New Yam Festival and the Yakurr nation as a whole have received.
Dignitaries who graced the festival were the Deputy Speaker and other members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, members of the state executive council, the Head of Service, the chairman of the traditional rulers council and other traditional rulers, and several political office holders.
The festival’s highlights included awarding prizes to the winners of the 2024 Mr. and Miss Leboku Pageant, the best Yam harvester of the year, and other consolation prizes.
