Leaders, traditional rulers and youths from Ukelle have called for constructive engagement with government, urging residents to sustain their advocacy for development without resorting to abusive or destructive use of social media.
They made the call on Monday at a town hall meeting in Wanokom, North Ukelle, where Dr Julius Okputu highlighted the ongoing 5 kilometre North Ukelle Road project.
Okputu said the project followed Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s visit to Ukelle shortly after his election, noting that the governor subsequently approved the first phase of the road project on July 1, 2024.
He explained that a reconnaissance and geotechnical survey revealed difficult soil conditions, with about 85 per cent of the route consisting of swampy and marshy terrain. This, he said, necessitated a redesign that increased the road width from 7.3 metres to 10.3 metres and provided for sand blankets, geomembrane, culverts, a mini bridge and an asphaltic binder course.
Okputu said the redesign also expanded Chief Ilom Bridge from 4.2 metres to 12 metres and addressed difficult sections around Apata, Okpodon, Ezekwe, Okpaka and Wanokom.
Addressing the youths, Elder Dr Hippolatus Lukpata, Commissioner for International Donor Coordination in Cross River State urged them to channel their energy towards peace and development, proposing a peace, development and reconciliation committee to address grievances.
The member representing Ukelle in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr Martins Achadu, condemned insults against constituted authorities while the Chairman of the Ukelle Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Ubeet Ignatius Olem, advocated dialogue and respectful engagement with government.
The meeting ended with a communique rejecting the politicisation and commercialisation of Ukelle’s challenges and dissociating the community from abusive social media campaigns.
