Dickson Assures On Ogbia/Nembe Road Completion

The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, says he will put every mechanism in place to ensure the completion of  the 40 years old Ogbia-Nembe road project by 2015

Hon Dickson, who described the delay as a hinderance to structural development, and investment in tourism and other socio-economic activities in the two local government areas promised that all such projects would be given accelerated attention by his administration.

The Ogbia-Nembe road project,which was initially awarded by Federal Government under the Military administration of Yakubu Gowon in 1973 but taken over by the SPDC and later the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) as part of community intervention agency effort.

Governor Seriake Dickson,while on a Special “Thank You” tour in Nembe Local Government Area of the state,said the decision of the state government to facilitate the completion of the road project was due to the need to boost the economic profile of the state and address security challenges being faced by  indigenes of the community.

Governor Dickson,who was recieved by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, (rtd), the former Military Administrator of Ebonyi and Delta states, Navy Captain Walter Feghabo, (rtd) and Senator Nimi Barigha Amange, also promised to assist the people in the preservation of the rich cultural heritage with a donation of N10m.

Dickson said “What I’ve seen reminded me of how much we as a government even needs to do in terms of working closely to preserve, propagate and even export and expose this very beautiful aspect of our lives that very often we don’t show enough. I want to commend you all and also assure you that in this business of preserving culture, you have me as an active partner.”

“Let me also use this opportunity to thank His Eminence, the Amanyanabo and his council of chiefs for inducting me into your very respected Sekiapu cultural group.  I am in support of any aspect of our culture that does not infringe on God’s sovereignty over His creation.”

“A short while ago I had announced a regime of support for the preservation of the cultural heritage and monuments in Nembe Local Government Area.  And I have directed the Chairman of Council to liaise with the Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs to see to it that all those aspects are supported and preserved and even documented for posterity.  I will even do so in Brass to preserve the White Man’s Grave and other relics that we have there.”

Earlier, at separate meetings with the Ogbolomabiri and Bassambiri Councils of Chiefs, Governor Dickson restated his administration’s commitment towards strengthening security in the state and implored the people to cooperate with government in that regard.

On infrastructural development and other concerns raised, he said, “ we are doing a few things in Nembe as you all know but there are several things coming that you do not know which you will know very soon because when we say something, we do it.  We don’t say things that we are not ready to do, like others do just to play to the gallery.  A number of things are in the pipeline; we have started implementing some and in no distant time, most of the concerns raised will become things of the past”.

In their separate remarks, the Amanyanabo of Nembe, King Edmund Daukoru and the Secretary of Nembe-Bassambiri Council of Chiefs, Chief Ayebaesin Edeghotu-Omo commended the Governor for the visit and stressed the need for more concerted security efforts on the waterways particularly in the Oluasiri area.

Describing the issue of illegal bunkering and sea-piracy as disturbing, King Daukoru said the kingdom had been battling with the menace through communal efforts.

He said, ‘we are ready to partner with you even in the area of security.  The youths have apprehended people in the past but when they are handed over for investigation and prosecution, very little happens.

Speaking in the same vein, Chief Edeghotu-Omo submitted, “we reiterate that the bravado which is being displayed by the marauders along the creeks becomes more worrisome as they are often assisted by the JTF to perpetrate their nefarious activities unperturbed.”