Ukelle leaders, traditional rulers, and youths across Ukelle have called on the people of Ukelle to engage the government constructively and sustain their advocacy in a positive light for the area’s development, particularly the completion of the 5KM North Ukelle Road project and other amenities.
They made this disclosure on Monday during a Town Hall meeting in Wanokom, North Ukelle. Dr Julius Okputu, one of the leaders at the forefront, said the purpose of the gathering was closely connected to the long-standing development challenges facing the Ukelle people and the efforts of successive administrations to address them.
He recalled that Ukelle was the first of the 25 state constituencies visited by Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, after his election. According to him, the Governor was received at the Cross River and Ebonyi boundary security post in Ipollo, Ntrigom, South Ukelle before touring the six Ukelle wards and ended the visit at the Wanihem Benue border after Okolor bridge.
Described in several quarters in Ukelle as one of the best leaders with sustainable infrastructure to his credit. Dr Okputu said the Governor subsequently approved the award of the first 5-kilometre phase of the North Ukelle Road project on July 1, 2024.
He explained that the initial project design could have focused on the easier and more accessible section of the road that would have left out some of the most difficult portions around Apata, Okpodon, Ezekwe, Okpaka and Wanokom.
However, he said the approach to take the difficult spots for intervention was changed after Governor Otu visited Apata at the commencement of work, inspected the project and directed the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to implement a new design that would more closely reflect the requirements of a Trunk A Federal Road.
According to Okputu, the Yahe-Wanokom-Wanikade-Wanihem Benue Border Road is a properly gazetted Federal Road and had previously been presented to the Federal Government, including during the maiden visit of the current Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to Cross River State after the 2023 elections.
He said the original Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) and sectional design for the 5KM were reviewed following a reconnaissance and geotechnical survey.
The survey, according to him, confirmed the virgin nature of the road and identified difficult soil conditions, including shale deposits, with about 85 per cent of the route consisting of swampy and marshy sections.
As a result, Dr Okputu said the revised design increased the road width from 7.3 metres to 10.3 metres, beginning from Apata. It also introduced a 300mm sand blanket, an impermeable geomembrane, another 300mm sand blanket and a 300mm laterite/sand mixture as sub-base.
The redesign included a short-span mini bridge at the approach, a culvert 250 metres from the approach and two double-cell culverts approximately 500 metres from the approach. He further explained that the new design provided for an asphaltic binder course for durability.
Dr Okputu also urged Ukelle to remain appreciative to the Governor to ensure that the North Ukelle Road, which he described as a roughly 40-kilometre swampy and marshy stretch characterised by clay and shale, receives an appropriate binder course before the final wearing course.
He also disclosed that the revised design provided for the expansion of the Chief Ilom Bridge from 4.2 metres to 12 metres, as well as the expansion of the Capital Hill area following the removal of rocks.
Reflecting on his journey of service, he listed several infrastructure projects executed during periods when he held various public offices not as an elected official but as a subordinate.
He said, among other things, the construction of Okolor Bridge between 2004 and 2007, six short-span bridges, more than 17 culverts and drains, the Aleluyah Bridge, Agbe Lihaak Lifa Bridge in Wanokom and Igbor Bridge in Wanihem.
He also recalled an electrification project stretching from Ipollo Ntrigom in South Ukelle to Wanihem in North Ukelle, which he described as the longest electrification project in Cross River State at the time.
Addressing the Ukelle youths from all walks of life, Elder Dr Hippolatus Lukpata said the weight of the moment requires deep reflection and discussion as brothers in order to toe the path of development in Ukelle.
“We cannot pretend that all is well,” he said, adding that the youths are the future of Ukelle and should direct their energy towards peace and development of Ukelle. He proposed a peace, development and reconciliation committee to always address issues instead of resorting to vulgar language on social media pages, which destroys the reputation of Ukelle.
Similarly, the member representing Ukelle in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr Martins Achadu, strongly condemned all insults at constituted authorities. He offered himself to the people. He urged them to heap all abuses on him instead of abusing people; he always runs to make a case for the Ukelle nation. He outrightly condemned the action as an act of destruction.
The chairman of Ukelle Traditional Rulers’ Council, His Royal Highness Ubeet Ignatius Olem, expressed displeasure with the social media activities of some Ukelle youths.
“We need to conduct ourselves properly and appeal to government for things respectfully because Ukelle has suffered. Any government that takes meaningful steps to address our problems, let Ukelle youths respect constituted authorities. Let’s leave dialogue open. Appeal: let’s talk to ourselves rather than resorting to social media,” he added.
In his short exhortation at the Town Hall meeting, Rev. Stephen Okem urged Ukelle youths to honour their leaders because they are to bring the light to the nation.
“God has a good plan for this land, and God has raised men to bring about the goodness of the land. Our leaders are not anti-progress. They are for the goodness of the land, and giving them honour procures progress to the land. Ukelle youths should work in oneness, be in unity and work together. The best way for us to progress is to yield yourselves to authorities.”
The Ukelle Town Hall meeting, which drew traditional rulers, Ukelle leaders, youths and the clergy, ended with a Communique which condemned in vehement terms the unpatriotic exploitation of Ukelle circumstances, especially the commercialisation and politicisation of Ukelle agonies in the media space.
Similarly, the Chiefs, Elders, Women and Youth of the land, as representatives of the entire Ukelle Nation, dissociate and completely reject the abusive, uncouth and destructive language of that infinitesimal number who are sponsored and are clearly set on a voyage of self- destructive use of the social media space.
Ukelle Nation sincerely appreciates the effort of government in its cross-sectoral development of the nation. 98 per cent of youths who are residents sincerely appreciate this effort and are simply asking for greater development for the people.
