… Set For Annual Erosion Festival
Otuokpoti community of the Ogbia council area of Bayelsa State have applauded party faithful and supporters of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the community for their peaceful and tranquil disposition during the recent governorship elections in the state.
Acting paramount ruler of the community, HRH Rescue Orisa Abi gave the commendations recently in his palace while speaking with Newsmen on a fact finding tour of select communities within Yenagoa and neighbouring Ogbia Local Government Areas of the state to ascertain the aftermath of the governorship elections in densely populated suburban communities of the state.
He said the community which boasts of indigenes holding both state and federal government appointments from both the APC and the PDP, was very peaceful unlike some where it was alleged that political rivalry led to disorder and chaos during the November 11th governorship elections.
Abi cautioned against electoral violence and youth restiveness, while also calling on the people of the community from either political divides to cooperate with the declared winner of the polls, the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri to move the state forward.
His Royal Highness noted that in any contest there would be a winner and a loser.
Similarly, the Otuokpoti community has said all was now set for the commemoration of its annual ‘Eyal Izogua'(shore erosion) festival.
According to the paramount ruler of the community, the festival which commences between 24th, 25th through 26th of November, 2023 was initiated in early 1980s during the civilian administration of the late Chief Melford Okilo, then Governor of the old Rivers State to mark the shore erosion protection contract awarded and executed by the government which brought an end to the once perennial erosion that bedeviled the ancient community.
The monarch, however averred that lately parts of the old constructed shore works have started eroding away, calling on the state government and other well-meaning individuals to come to the aide of the Otuokpoti community to forestall the imminent threat before it degenerate to another disaster in the state.
The Paramount ruler said: “Our community was very peaceful before, during and after the governorship elections of November 11, 2023. Though in this community we’ve politicians from both the PDP and APC who have federal and state appointments.
“We asked the town crier to proclaim round- the-community to tell both indigenes and non-indigenes who don’t have their permanent voters card(PVCs) or who don’t have anything to do with the elections to steer-clear of polling units and booths to avoid trouble.
“We also told the Divisional Police officer(DPO) of the Ogbia West Police Division which is located here in this community to cooperate as usual with the community and other stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free exercise during the elections”.
He added: “Before my appointment as Acting Paramount ruler of this community, we’d no fewer than three to four kidnap cases from this community alone, but since I came onboard as paramount ruler, with the cooperation of stakeholders and security formations in and around the community, especially during the elections we’d experienced any form of violence.
“However, our major concern now is that after the peaceful elections in the community, we’ld be celebrating our annual ‘Eyal Izo-Ogua'(Shore erosion protection festival) from November 26th, 2023. But as we celebrate, I’ld like to again call on the attention of the Government and other well-meaning individuals to come to our aide as sections of the old constructed erosion control works in the community have started eroding away”.
