Excitement  as Dickson Makes Maiden Drive to Riverine Bayelsa Town

Excitement  as Dickson Makes Maiden Drive to Riverine Bayelsa Town

By Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

The people of Ekeremor, Ekeremor Local Government, Bayelsa State, have expressed surprise after Governor Seriake Dickson drove in a convoy of cars through the Sagbama-Ekeremor  road for the first time in the history of the oil-rich coastal town.

It was the first time residents would see cars drive into their c

ommunity, even as Dickson  maintained that the Federal Government has no interest in the development of the State, despite the state’s huge contribution to Nigeria’s economic survival.

Dickson, who received a thunderous applause when he made the ‘historic’ drive through the over 100-kilometre Sagbama-Ekeremor new  road amid cheers from jubilant crowds, noted that it was also part of the reason the strategic road was abandoned for 40 years by the federal government.

The road, which has several bridges currently being built, it was learnt had been in the budget in the last four decades without any work to justify it.

However, residents of the town where the Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri hails from, were delighted seeing vehicles for the first time in their communities.

A mammoth crowd later gathered at the Ekeremor  Civic Centre, where the governor 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.

The Governor who charged the people to shun acts that are inimical to the peace and development of the area noted that Ekeremor is fast becoming an urban centre with the new road.

He assured that the ongoing electrification project to connect the community to the national grid would be completed before the end of this year” the statement noted.

Dickson added: “We took the road to Aleibiri  last year. Today, we are here because we have constructed all the bridges on the road without disturbances. This road is very strategic not only to Ekeremor, but to Bayelsa State and Ijaw nation as a whole.

“I will do everything  within my reach to turn this place to an urban centre. Already, I have awarded the contract to connect Ekeremor to the national grid and work is already ongoing” he said.

Also, the governor received several defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Mr. Felix Lokpobiri, a cousin to the Minister.

In his remarks, Mr Lokpobiri expressed happiness over the road project, noting that with the latest defection, there was no longer any opposition in the area.

“ I can say that we were in bondage in the APC and we are glad that we are out of that sterile party” he said.

Dickson had earlier paid a  visit to the Paramount ruler of Ekeremor community, Chief Agbodo Gbaseimo, where the elated monarch  conferred him with the chieftaincy title of, “Ebikonbowei” which means one who brings good things.

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