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Ekeremor in Bayelsa agog over first motorable road

By Julius Osahon, Yenagoa
18 January 2019   |   2:29 am
The Bayelsa State governor, Seraike Dickson, scored a first when he led his entire executive council for the first motor ride to Ekeremor, headquarters of Ekeremor local government area of the state, the first in the history of the community.

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.<br />

The Bayelsa State governor, Seraike Dickson, scored a first when he led his entire executive council for the first motor ride to Ekeremor, headquarters of Ekeremor local government area of the state, the first in the history of the community. Ekeremor, the hometown of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, went agog as residents of the community almost went berserk seeing cars for the first time in their community.

Thousands of elated leaders and residents trooped out in large numbers to welcome and thank the governor for making it possible for cars to drive into their community 40 years after the road project, initially conceived as a federal government project, was abandoned.

The governor by his singular act broke a 40-year jinx on Monday, January 14, when he led a convoy of SUVs to the newly sand-filled road to Ekeremor Local Government Area.

Addressing the crowd at the town’s Civic Centre, Dickson described the road project as strategic not only to the Ekeremor people but also for the socio-economic development of the state and the Ijaw nation.He decried Federal Government’s lack of interest in developing the state in spite of its huge contribution to the sustenance of the nation’s economy as portrayed in the abandonment of the Ekeremor-Sagbama road project conceived over 40 years ago.

Appreciating the people for giving him their mandate twice to represent them in the House of Representatives and as governor, he assured that the ongoing electrification project to connect the community to the national grid would be completed before the end of the year.

The governor had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler of Ekeremor community, Chief Agbodo Gbaseimo, where he explained that he could not visit the community as earlier promised due to his bereavement.

In his remarks, the monarch expressed appreciation to the governor for keeping faith with his electoral promise and assured him of the people’s continued support. On behalf of the Ekeremor Council of Chiefs, the elated monarch conferred Dickson with the chieftaincy title of ‘Ebikonbowei,’ which means one who brings good things.

Also speaking, chairman of the Restoration Caucus, Ekeremor local government area, Chief Thompson Okorotie, described Dickson as a perfectionist with an uncommon passion to develop the state.

According to Chief Okorotie, the road and other critical projects would open up Ekeremor to commercial and social activities, noting that an annual event would be chosen by the people to mark the historic feat.

Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for state and national assembly elections as well as inspection of some projects in the area. It was also an opportunity for many of the aggrieved All Progressive Congress (APC) members in the community to decamp to the PDP.

They were led by Felix Lokpobiri, who is the APC Ward Chairman in Ekeremor, alongside other APC chieftains in the area including, Chief Godday Millionnaire, Mr Lawrence Lokri, Hon. Jumbo Engiama and a former House of Assembly member, Hon Isaac Oniye, who all defected.

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