By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The governor of Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, has said the people of Ayakoro community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State deserves to produce a governor in the state.
Senator Okpebholo made this known during the 67th anniversary of Ayakoro Annual Festival, EYAL OBEYIN 2025, at Ayakoro community.
The Edo State governor who was chairman of the occasion said, the massive development and Operation Light Up Niger Delta is as a result of pragmatic efforts of the Managing Director/ Chief executive officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku an illustrious of Ayakoro community.
“When I saw the underdevelopment in my community, I asked God to raise us a man that will bring development to us and today am the governor. For the great things Dr. Ogbuku is doing in this community and the entire Niger Delta, Ayakoro community deserve to produce the next governor of Bayelsa State.
“I have learned something new today in this community and I will also take it home”.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku who is the co-chief host and the deputy paramount ruler of Ayakoro community said, the celebration of the festival was to celebrate their forefathers who due to coastal erosion deem it fit to relocate to the present place.
He commended them for there foresight in relocating to the present sight to save future generations from ravaging coastal erosion. “I believe they saw something at that time that made them cross to the present location and since then prosperity has continue to be upon Ayakoro community”.
He said whatever achievements they are making at the NDDC is as a result of collaboration from the stakeholders and everyone of them. “One thing is sure that we will always do more if our communities across Niger Delta can partners with us by ensuring that they will protect the facilities we are building in the communities.
“This facilities are going to be enjoyed by the communities and the people of the communities should take ownership of the facilities. Sometimes we feel bad how some facilities build in a community is been vandalized. So, I will appeal that whatever facilities that has been brought to you, guide it jealously.
“We don’t like a situation where the communities make things difficult for the contractors and if the contractors decided to leave, it’s your community that will suffer. Any communities that have challenges with the contractors, please come to us. Do not frustrate the contractors, we can handle it because NDDC want to spread development across the entire Niger Delta”.
He said as a board, they have had several accolades from the people and even from Mr. President. “We are not carried away by those accolades rather it spur us to do more. It’s a challenge to do more for the people of Niger Delta”.
In his keynote address, the senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Sen. Benson Sunday Agadaga said, with the development going on and the operation light up Niger Delta by NDDC, “we in the Senate, we are pleased with your achievements and commitment towards the development of the Niger Delta”.
He extolled the virtue of Ayakoro forefathers who had in there time solved what would have been generational problems. “I want to thank Ayakoro people for keeping the festival alive since it’s inception and I want to encourage them to continue with it”.
Benson Agadaga called on all sons and daughters of Niger Delta to shun the pull him down syndrome, saying they should join hands together for the overall development of the region.
In his welcome address, the Chief host and the Royal Highness of Ayakoro community, Righteous Inegbagha said, Ayakoro Annual Festival called EYAL OBEYIN- (crossing) was born out of the need to honour as well as immortalizing the founding fathers of blessed memory on this wise.
According to him, the founding fathers were the leaders of the time who by their visionary leadership style embarked and accomplished such a great feat of historic settlement of the entire people of Ayakoro community on the 12th day of February,1958, from the old settlement to the present day Ayakoro.
“This visionary efforts of the founding fathers was propelled by the significant threat posed by coastal erosion bearing in mind the untold suffering the future generation might face. While the foregoing remain an impeccable truth, in fact, they deserve an extra ordinary celebration.
“Let me remind all sons and daughters of Ayakoro community that we owe a duty to our founding fathers. They have laid the foundation upon which we to grow. It’s now our duty to continue from where they stopped. I urged all of us to see ourselves as a generation of progressively minded people and behave accordingly.
“I tasked all progressive to get involve in creative thinking, forward-thinking ideas and a focus on achieving a significant change or improvement going beyond the existing status quo. Our destiny like a fragile vessel is in our hands today. Undoubtedly,our salvation lies in our preparedness to leave in harmony, collaboration and reciprocal veneration and tolerance. Let us remember that united we stand and divided will fall”.
The Highness used the medium to thank Edo state governor, senator Monday Okpebholo who is the chairman of the occasion and the MD/CEO of NDDC (Dr). Samuel Ogbuku and other dignitaries that attended the ceremony.
