By Ita Williams,
Leaders of the Yakurr Nation in Cross River State have appealed to Governor Bassey Edet Otu to extend the transmission coverage of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) to Ugep and other communities in Yakurr Local Government Area.
The leaders made the appeal on Monday during the 21st edition of the Leboku International New Yam Festival at the Yakurr Peace Stadium, Ugep.
They said inadequate broadcast transmission had continued to deny many residents regular access to programmes and official information disseminated through the state-owned broadcasting station.
Speaking on behalf of the Obol Lopon of Ugep, the Publicity Secretary of the Obol Lopon Advisory Council (OLAC), Comrade Azikiwe Williams, said the demand for improved CRBC coverage was not a new one.
“This is the second time we are demanding that the signal of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, CRBC, the state broadcasting station in Calabar, be extended to reach Yakurr,” Williams said.
He explained that the existing radio wavelength did not adequately serve Yakurr communities, leaving residents unable to follow government programmes and other broadcasts originating from Calabar.
“As it were, the radio wavelength does not cover Yakurr, and we are denied the opportunity of listening to and viewing government programmes,” he added.
Williams appealed to the governor to consider establishing a broadcast station or relay facility in the area to enable communities receive official information promptly and consistently.
“Let me appeal that efforts should be made to build a broadcast station in Yakurr to allow us to get information as the state government releases them,” he said.
The traditional institution argued that improved broadcasting infrastructure would strengthen communication between the government and rural communities, particularly where access to the internet and other digital platforms remains uneven.
It added that an expanded CRBC presence would improve public awareness of government policies, encourage greater participation in public affairs and provide a platform for the promotion of Yakurr’s rich cultural heritage.
“This appeal is because Yakurr is indeed central to your administration,” Williams told the governor, while commending the Otu administration for ongoing road and other infrastructure projects in the area.
He, however, urged the government to spread development to more Yakurr communities, particularly areas contributing substantially to the state’s agricultural output and solid mineral resources.
“More of these infrastructures need to be extended to other Yakurr communities for even development, especially in communities where the bulk of agricultural produce and solid minerals are found and extracted,” Williams said.
The council also sought the renovation and upgrading of the Ugep Peace Stadium, including the installation of a standby generating set, to enhance its capacity for cultural, sporting and community events.
The appeal coincided with the 21st Leboku International New Yam Festival, themed, “Rooted in Culture, Growing in Prosperity,” which brought together government officials, traditional institutions and visitors to celebrate the agricultural heritage and cultural identity of the Yakurr people.
His Excellency Governor Bassey Edet Otu, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, described the festival as an important platform for promoting culture, agriculture, tourism and economic development.
“Leboku is not only a cultural celebration but also a platform for promoting agriculture, tourism and economic growth in Yakurr and Cross River State,”Hon. Odey said.
Odey announced a N50 million commitment for the renovation of the Ugep Peace Stadium.
The governor also condemned the recent communal conflict involving Ugep and Idumi, warning that sustained violence could damage tourism and slow development.
He cautioned that the government could withdraw official recognition from traditional rulers in communities where peace and order collapse.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Obi Ayuk Offor, said the government remained committed to developing Leboku into a major international tourism attraction.
“We must put an end to recurring communal violence because no meaningful development or tourism can thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity.” Hon. Odey maintained.
The Yakurr traditional institution, while reaffirming its support for the Otu administration, maintained that improved broadcasting infrastructure remained essential to strengthening the relationship between the government and the people at the grassroots
