Osinbajo conferred with Ebikakubowei 1 of Bayelsa State Chieftaincy title
By Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
The Vice-President, Yemi Osibajo has been conferred with a chieftaincy title of the
Ebikakubowei 1 of Bayelsa, meaning one who seeks good or progress. The chieftaincy title was conferred on the Vice-President during the flag-off of the strategic bridge linking the riverine Oporoma, the headquarters of the largest local government area in Nigeria, Southern Ijaw and the coastal areas in Bayelsa State.
The flag-off, which was held at Angiama community was preceded by a historic drive on the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road, which construction has reached Angiama in southern Ijaw.
The Vice-President commended Governor Diri for continuing projects that predated his administration, saying the 36km Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road was significant as it will improve the economy of the people and reduce the incidence of sea piracy.
He noted that the partnership between the federal and state governments was working as evidenced in the refund of money spent by the states government on federal roads, assuring that the federal government will continue to support the states to enable them meet their developmental aspirations.
Prof. Osinbajo said the rural communities in Southern Ijaw were hosts to the nation’s oil and gas wealth and therefore deserve developmental projects such as the historic road.
The nation’s number two man said no inclusive prosperity can thrive without linking communities by road and charged the people of Southern Ijaw to take ownership of the project.
He also called on people of the state to support Governor Diri’s administration to enable it deliver on its mandate.
He expressed optimism that the project would be completed by the Governor and urged him to continue to serve the people of the state diligently.
The Vice-President conveyed President Buhari’s message of felicitations to Bayelsans, thanked Governor Douye Diri for inviting him to be part of his second year anniversary celebration.
He praised Diri and his team for continuing with the road and bridge projects which have been on the drawing board for over sixty years and assured the state of the federal government’s support for the project.
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri described the flag-off of the link bridge as significant to the people of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area given the fact that it has been on the drawing board for over 60 years.
The Governor stressed that despite the daunting hurdles and notwithstanding, the lean financial situation of the state, his Prosperity Government decided to prioritise the completion of the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road in furtherance of a strategic government master plan.
Describing the project as a Trunk, a federal road, he expressed the readiness of the state government to partner the federal government to ensure the speedy completion of the project.
While commending the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) for doing a good job so far, Diri directed the Ministry of Finance and its Works and Infrastructure counterpart to release not less than 70 per cent of the contract sum to the firm to enhance its job.
The state’s helmsman thanked the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo for finding time out of his tight schedule to flag off the project and described him as a lover of the state and a friend of the Niger Delta adding that when history is written on how the bridge has changed the fortunes of the people of Southern Ijaw in particular and Bayelsa State in general, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s name will be boldly be mentioned.
According to Governor Diri, the presence of Prof. Osinbajo exemplifies the bridge of cooperation that endures between the Government of Prosperity in Bayelsa State and the Federal Government stressing that it takes time, effort and planning to build cooperation, as the state is encouraged by the Vice President’s attendance.
In his welcome address, the chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Chief Nigeria Kia, said the day was one of the happiest in the lives of all Southern Ijaw people given the significance of the project.
He said the local government, which has over 200 communities, has only about five connected by road.
Kia thanked Governor Diri for prioritising the project while assuring that the people of the area will continue to support him.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, said the road was one of the three senatorial road projects aimed at opening up the state and boosting economic activities while also decongesting Yenagoa and reducing sea piracy.
Teibowei lauded CCECC and expressed optimism that the road will be completed within the specified time.
Earlier, the Vice President Osinbajo paid a courtesy visit on the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council where he thanked custodians of the Ijaw tradition for the warm reception accorded him.
In his remarks, Vice Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, King Malla Sasime, thanked Osinbajo for recognising the traditional stool and wished him well.
