Bayelsa State Government says it will soon award contract for the construction of the second phase of the East/West-Sampou-Odoni-Osekwenike-Elemebiri Road project to further open up the state for investment and other socioeconomic activities.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this while granting audience to the Paramount Ruler of Okugbe-Isoko Clan, His Royal Highness, Capt Frank Okurakpo (JP) and his Council of Chiefs in Government House, Yenagoa.
Describing the road as strategic, he said when completed, it would link the state to the South Eastern part of the country, and thereby boost the state economy through enhanced transportation, social activities, trade and investments.
The Deputy Governor added that, but for some identified shortcomings in the proposal presented to the State Executive Council during one of its recent meetings, Governor Douye Diri would have approved the contract for the construction of the road project.
His words: “You would have heard it as a breaking news because the issue of this road came up Exco’s approval about two weeks ago. But unfortunately, those who handled it did not bring it up properly for Exco to okay it.
”Going by their proposal, they terminated the road at Asamabiri. But we felt we cannot do that road and end it at Asamabiri and leave out communities like Ekperiware and Elemebiri.
”In fact, our plan is that that road should link Ndoni so that it can serve as a way out for some of you who may not want to pass through this part of the state to Owerri; You just cross to Omagwu and turn left to get to Ogwuta and when you turn right, you go to Owerri through Egbema.
”Government will award the contract for the construction of that road. So, we asked the Commissioner for Works to withdraw what was presented and re-present the proposal for the road. I’m sure that he would have worked on it.”
On the issue of upgrading the Okugbe- Isoko Chieftaincy stool to a first class status, the Deputy Governor urged all affected deserving clans to remain patient, adding that government would soon carry out a comprehensive statewide stool reclassification exercise.
Earlier in his remarks, the Paramount Ruler of Okugbe-Isoko Clan, His Royal Highness Capt. Frank Okurakpo (Rtd), acknowledged the significant development strides made by the Governor Douye Diri-led Administration, especially in terms of road infrastructure, security, health, agriculture, housing and human capital development.
The monarch, who spoke through the Ewoma of Okugbe-Isoko, Chief Prosper Nwaguzo, passionately appealed to the state government to upgrade the clan’s stool from second class to first class, and construct the second phase of the East-West-Sampou-Odoni-Agbere- Osekwenike-Elemebiri Road project, among other requests.
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 marginalized.
”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 list of communities in the new LGAs in Sagbama. These omissions should be noted for correction as when appropriate.”
In a related development, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo at the weekend also performed the formal commissioning of the palace annexe of the Okugbe-Isoko Kingdom in Bayelsa situated at the BayelsaPalm Estate in the Yenagoa metropolis.
While congratulating King Okurakpo for putting up the magnificent edifice, the Deputy Governor said the facility would stand as a symbol of unity for the Okugbe-Isoko people.
Presenting a welcome address on behalf of the revered traditional ruler, chiefs and people of Okugbe-Isoko Clan, Chief Bernard Ikpekri, thanked the Deputy Governor for honouring the invitation, noting that the palace annexe was built within the state capital to make for easy liaison and other diaspora engagements of the clan head.
Top government functionaries that accompanied the deputy governor for the palace inauguration were commissioners, including the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, his mineral resources counterpart, Mr Peter Afagha, and the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Perekeme Bertola.
