By Balimwor Ekpe
In a significant move by the Government of Cross River State to rejuvenate the lost splendour in Leboku International New Yam festival, the Honourable commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon Chief. Robert Abubakar Ewa has led a delegation of the management and staff of his ministry to meet with the different Obol Lopon of yakurr communities in their palace, seeking for the absolute participation of their communities in the yakurr Leboku International New yam festival.
Communities that their Obol lopon were visited by the commissioner and his team members includes, Ugep, Ekori, Assiga old and new Town, Inyima, Nko, mkpani, Agoi and Idomi communities.
Describing the Leboku International festival as significant to Government and international communities, the commissioner lamented on the loss of grandness that Government has observed in the past Leboku festivals held. He enunciated that Leboku international Festival is a cultural event that is established for the sole purpose of promoting unity amongst the yakurr people and also showcasing their agricultural affluence to the world, thereby increasing the traffic of economic activities in yakurr to make wealth for the people.
Also the permanent secretary of the ministry, Pastor(Mrs)Eme Affia spoke on the need for peace and unity amongst the yakurr communities, appealing for participation of all the Obol Lopon of different communities and their people in this year’s festival and beyond to make leboku colourful and improve it’s interestingness.
The Obol Lopon of the different communities expressed their resentment over the monopoly they have suffered in the past festivals that made them withdraw their participation, thanked the Government for their concerns and promised their onward participation in the Leboku international new yam festival.
Finally the commissioner, appreciated the different communities Obol Lopon for accepting to cooperate with Government to perfect leboku in this season of sweetness which yakurr is not left out, while he requested for a representative from each yakurr community to be part of the planning committee of this year’s yakurr Leboku international Festival.
