Bayelsa govt to award contract for East/West-Osekwenike-Elemebiri Road
…Says project will link state to South East
Bayelsa State Government has announced that it will soon award the contract for the second phase of the East/West-Sampou-Odoni-Osekwenike-Elemebiri Road project to further open up the state for investment and socioeconomic development.
In a statement on Friday signed by Mr Doubara Atasi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo said the road remains strategic, stressing that when completed, it would link Bayelsa to the South Eastern part of the country and boost transportation, trade, social activities and investment inflows.
On the demand for an upgrade of the Okugbe-Isoko Chieftaincy stool to first-class status, the Deputy Governor urged patience, assuring that government would soon embark on a comprehensive stool reclassification exercise across the state.
In his remarks, the Paramount Ruler of Okugbe-Isoko Clan, His Royal Highness Capt. Frank Okurakpo (Rtd), represented by the Ewoma of Okugbe-Isoko, Chief Prosper Nwaguzo, commended Governor Douye Diri’s administration for what he described as significant strides in infrastructure, security, agriculture, health, housing and human capital development.
The monarch also appealed for the upgrade of the Okugbe-Isoko stool and the completion of the second phase of the road project, stressing that the community had long been marginalised.
He said: “Our appeal since then has been and still remains that, as a kingdom, our clan head should be granted the 1st Class recognition as all other clan heads. It is our clan head alone that is so marginalised. The efforts of the state government in setting in motion the process of new local government creation and submitting a proposal of 33 new LGAs is commendable. We would however point out that two of our communities in Okugbe-Isoko Kingdom, namely Igule-Ogbokiri and Kenan, are not listed in the new LGAs in Sagbama. These omissions should be noted for correction as when appropriate.”
In a related development, Senator Ewhrudjakpo at the weekend commissioned the palace annexe of the Okugbe-Isoko Kingdom at Bayelsa Palm Estate in Yenagoa.
He congratulated King Okurakpo for building what he described as a unifying symbol for the people of Okugbe-Isoko.
Presenting a welcome address, Chief Bernard Ikpekri, on behalf of the ruler, chiefs and people of the clan, said the facility was sited in Yenagoa to ease liaison and diaspora engagements of the traditional institution.
Top government officials present included Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mr Peter Afagha, and the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Perekeme Bertola.