Ogbuku Appeals To Diri For More Projects In Ayakoro

The managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, has appealed to the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, to extend more developmental projects to Ayakoro community in Ogbia local government area.

Ogbuku made the appeal at the 68th Ayakoro Annual Festival held at the weekend which marks the historic relocation of the community from its old settlement to its present site in 1958.

Speaking at the event, Ogbuku described Ayakoro as a peaceful community and urged the governor, whom he also described as a man of peace, to support the area with additional government projects.

He appreciated the governor for ongoing and completed projects in the community but said more was needed to complement what had been done by the state government and the NDDC.

“Your Excellency, as a community, while we appreciate what you have done for us, we also want to appeal that you carry out more projects in this community so as to complement the existing ones carried out by your administration and the NDDC.

“The secondary school building standing close to this arena is a project done by your administration.

“I want to, on behalf of this community, still appeal to His Excellency that for the fact that we have been able to showcase that we are a community of peace, and you being a man of peace, you also need to award more projects from Bayelsa State Government to this community.

“Thank you for being a blessing to me and we know that for the fact that you are here today again, we are going to most probably overcome the challenges that we are having in this community. We believe for the fact that you are coming here today, you are also going to leave behind some of the blessings that you have come with to Ayakoro.”

Ogbuku explained that the festival celebrates the courage and resilience of the people, especially their decision decades ago to relocate due to flooding and erosion.

He said the people had to move from their former settlement, which was badly affected by erosion, to what was then considered a thick forest, adding that the relocation marked both an act of faith and a step toward development.

He added that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment, noting that Ayakoro people have always chosen peace over conflict in their pursuit of progress.

In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri, reiterated his administration’s commitment to rural development, adding that when projects are taken to rural communities, residents can live comfortably there and work in the state capital without fear.

The governor listed major road projects, including the Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma-Ubie road and the Akaba-Okodi road, noting that Ayakoro is one of the benefiting communities.

“Ayakoro is one of the benefiting communities of the Akaba-Okodi road project and that road has gone far. I don’t think that from the point the road has reached to Ayakoro community is up to 2km. We’re determined to develop Bayelsa State with infrastructural projects.

“Today we can see a new Ayakoro, courtesy of what my brother and friend, the MD/CEO NDDC is doing. Some people like talking down on others but if you investigate properly, you’ll find out that they are the ones doing what they accuse others of. I don’t believe in running people down. We must stop that kind of politics.”

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, commended the community for preserving its culture.

He said cultural festivals can attract tourism and investment, adding that what he witnessed in Ayakoro showed unity, love and peace.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Pureaziba Akpoti, recounted the history of the relocation.

He said the present site was once a forest feared by the people, who believed spirits and dangerous creatures lived there, but through prayers and consultations, they successfully moved in 1958.

The annual festival, known as ‘Eyal Obeyin’, continues to celebrate that historic move and the determination of the people to build a new future despite the challenges of erosion and displacement.