Diri Calls For Preservation Of Cultural Values

The Bayelsa State Government has called on community leaders in the state to take deliberate steps to preserve their cultural values as part of efforts towards fighting against moral decadence in society.
The State Governor, Senator Douye Diri made the call at Onopa, Yenagoa LGA of the state. While speaking as guest of honour at this year’s Uge-Adiafa (Yam) Festival of the Atissa people.
Represented by his Deputy, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, Governor Diri expressed concern that the rich cultual heritage, including the language of the Ijaw nation is being threatened by western values and alien practices.
According to the Governor, most of the dialects in Ijaw land would go into extinction if deliberate steps are not taken to safeguard them, warning that when a people lose their indigenous languages, then their own culture and identity are lost.
He noted that although festivals constituted an expression of culture, the erosion of their language could eventually lead to the extinction of the culture in the long run.
He reminded parents and elders that they have a social and moral obligation to tell their children to be of good character and behavior, stressing that a culture without respect for elders is no culture at all.
“As a people, we are suffering from what is called environmental terrorism mainly caused by the oil companies. But there is another terrorism that is threatening us, which is cultural terrorism.
“We must know and realise that our is being threatened everyday by westernisation. When a people lost their culture, they have lost their identity. When they lose their language, they have lost their identity.
“The Ijaw nation, which also consists of the Epie and Atissa kingdoms should know that we are at the verge of losing our language. So, I want to use this opportunity to call on all of us parents to teach our children our language.
“Let me also urge our youths to learn how to respect. They must know the boundary between illegality and morality. A culture without respect is no culture. If you don’t respect others, you will not also be respected”, he said.
Responding to the requests of the Atissa Kingdom, the Governor mentioned some of ongoing and completed projects in the area embarked upon by his administration, including the canalisation of the Ekoli River at Obogoro and the construction of the new Commissioners Quarters at Onopa.
He assured the people of Epie and Atissa kingdoms that government would continue identify with them for the sacrifices they are making as hosts of the state capital.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the 2022 Uge-Adiafa and Member representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Hon. Oforji Oboku, described the annual festival as a major unifying factor among the 12 communities that make up the Atissa Kingdom.
Oforji appreciated the Governor Dir-led Administration for always identifying with the Atissa people, and called on the government to extend the ongoing canalisation at Obogoro to other Atissa towns currently affected by erosion.
In his presentation, the Ebenibe of Atissa, King Godwin Igodo, commended the present adnistration for its infrastructural development projects across the state, especially the ones sited in Atissa kingdom.
King Godwin Igodo, who was represented by the Ebeni-Isisibo of Atissa, His Royal Highness Dr Goodwill Simeon, however, appealed to the state government to put to use the six-classroom block built for Onopa community by the SPDC 2017.
He also appealed for more government projects to be sited in Atissa towns and the appointment of more Atissa sons and daughters into various positions of trust by the state government.
Meanwhile, the Ebeneken(paramount ruler) of Onopa Communitiy, host of the 2022 Uge Adiafa festival HRH Morris Tamama has commended the state governor, senator Douye Diri for gracing the occasion.
The royal father who also lauded the governor on both the completed an ongoing projects in the community and other parts of the Atissa kingdom in particular and the entire state in general described governor Diri as a listening leader, this was just as he stated that the governor has proved his mettle as a true leader who has impacted immensely in the annals of the State’s development.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa