Otu task Yala monarchs on communal ties, peaceful co-existence; promises to uplift Okuku market to a thriving local commodity hub of international standard
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has called on traditional rulers in Yala Local Government Area to foster healthy communal relationship, peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness among themselves.
Otu charged the royal fathers to always maintain peaceful co-existence among the communities even as the government plans to explore the huge agricultural potential of the area thereby repositioning Yala to its once pride of place as the food basket of the State.
According to his Chief Press Secretary Gill Nsa, Otu made the call when he received in his office a delegation from the Yala speaking people of Yala LGA, led by their Paramount Ruler, Ogamode Clement Onah Ipuole.
Speaking of his administration’s commitment to return the renowned Okuku market in Yala Local Government to a thriving local commodity hub of international standard, Otu assured his government will open up roads for ease of transportation of goods from the communities to the urban markets.
“We want the cooperation of our traditional authorities to nib the avoidable records of communal clashes and other disputes in the bud.”
He noted that the State was carrying out proper reforms to ensure that agriculture is well positioned as the mainstay of Cross River State’s economy. He stressed that security and other measures that would entrench sanity in the area are being put in place.
Otu promised to look at requests made by the delegation with a view to uplifting the living standard of the Yala people, and expressed optimism that in the near future when the envisioned Okuku commodity market rebasing becomes a reality, the State government would indeed make areas like Okpoma and Okuku urban towns insisting that the agricultural potentials of the area have all the trappings to make Yala an urban and commercial nerve center in the northern part of the State.
In his remark, the Paramount Ruler, Ogamode Clement Onah Ipuole, said the Yala speaking people were in the governor’s office to identify with him and show solidarity in his leadership.
Ogamode Ipuole, who was represented by Ogamode Odaji Ipuole, stated that “We have come here to assure him that we will continue to work with him, stand by him at all times and support him all through his tenure as the governor of Cross River State.”
The royal father drew the attention of the governor to a number of teething challenges bothering the area, some of which he mentioned to include: access roads linking the various communities, lack of portable drinking water, upgrade of the Okuku local food commodity market to international standard.
He also appealed for the creation of an irrigation dam in Yala to bolster food production as well as exploration of the huge salt deposits in the area which should lead to establishing a salt industry. Another is the expansion of Okuku campus of the University of Cross River State to a full-fledged university.
Also speaking, Chief Higgins Peters, a prominent stakeholder in Yala expressed satisfaction in the outcome of the meeting and the governor’s assurances to address issues they presented before him.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
