Ogbuku Seeks More Projects In Bayelsa Community

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.

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

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 more government projects.

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

He said, “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.

In his remarks, Governor 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 benefitting communities.

“Ayakoro is one of the benefitting 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,” he said.

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, 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 moved in 1958.