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By Amos Odhe
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Peter Akpe, has called on the people of the state to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Ijaw nation and resist its adulteration through the importation of alien practices.
Dr Akpe made the call in Yenagoa at the weekend, when he paid a condolence visit to the Tule family of Ofoni Federated Community, Sagbama Local Government Area, over the demise of their mother, late Mrs. Agreement Tule, who died on August 4, 2026, at the age of 88.
He expressed concern over what he described as the growing infiltration of cultural practices alien to the Ijaw people, particularly in the observance of traditional marriage and burial rites, stressing the need for a cultural reawakening.
He also emphasized the need for people to avoid unnecessary competitions and showmanship, but rather do things within the limits of their capacity.
The Deputy Governor commiserated with Mr. Minister Tule and other members of the bereaved family, urging them to be consoled by the fact that their mother lived a fulfilled life and died at a ripe age.
His words: “We are here to commiserate with you. Your mother lived for 88 years, almost 90. Even though we didn’t interact with her while she lived, the qualities we find in you tell us her story.
“There is something about our culture I think we need to look at. For instance, somebody died in the village and you took the corpse to deposit in a mortuary in Port Harcourt. Does it make sense. For me, it doesn’t.
“Even this wedging of kola nut during traditional presentations, we are doing now, I stand to be corrected, is a borrowed culture. We have even borrowed what is now known as canopy standing and canopy dropping. That means we do one particular burial for several times.
“If we fail to talk about these things and stop them, they will stand and our children will believe them as our true tradition and culture. I’m an advocate of ‘whatever we do, we should do it in accordance with what we can afford.’ In the course of doing it, if help comes our way, we thank God. That is my philosophy.
Responding on behalf of the family and the entire Ofoni community, Dr. Christopher Ewhrudjakpo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Mr Friday Oyivwita, thanked the deputy governor and his delegation for the condolence visit.
Dr Ewhrudjakpo equally appreciated Akpe for his sustained support to the community and pledged their continued loyalty and unalloyed support for the Governor Douye Diri-led Prosperity Administration.
The deputy governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for General Duties, Hon. Johnson Onoma; Special Adviser on Enterprise Development, Chief Victor Sam-Ateki; and Chairman, Izon-Ebe Microfinance Bank, Chief Ayakeme Whisky.
Others are the APC House of Assembly flag bearer for Sagbama Constituency 1, Hon
Lucky Agbalaje, and the Sagbama Local Government APC Chairman, Mr Arioke Ohwona, as well as Hon. Williams Ofoni, Dr. Stanley Dide, Hon. Engema Jumbo, and Mr Lokiri Lawrence.
