Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri
Epie-Atissa slams Diri over neglect of Yenagoa cultural heritage
The Epie-Atissa , the two ethnic nationalities that make up Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital have frowned at neglect from Gov Douye Diri led government and conspicuous absence of Diri at the recently concluded historic Uge Gene Festival.
The Yenagoa coordinator of the New Generation Leaders and a former Spokesperson of the Bayelsa Comrade Family, Comrade Odede Precious said on Monday that Diri was insensitive to the aspirations of the communities hosting the seat of power.
The youth leader expressed worry over what he describes as Gov. Diri’s continued neglect of the Epie/Atissa people.
Precious who is also an enthusiast of the Epie/Atissa Kingdoms culture stated: “As a people we have been neglected, used and reduced to second class citizens in the state.
“Yet we are the landlords of the capital, a capital they have deliberately refused to develop. It is still painful and fresh in our minds that former Governor Dickson called Yenagoa a forest capital.
“Even Sampou the governor’s community, is now miles ahead of Yenagoa which seems stuck in the past due to abject neglect.
“We have also been ignored in terms of appointments in this administration. I dont even want to talk about empowerment which is quite poor for the Oguan people.
“But of more concern to me is why Governor Douye Diri did not attend the Uge Gene Epie/Atissa Unity festival, the first ever attempt aimed at unifying both our kingdoms even further.
“The governor should have attended or sent a formal representative or statement, but no attempt was made from Government House. That tells how much we the Oguan people are valued.
“I urge the prosperity government to begin looking into the plight of the Oguan people. Being the hosts of the capital shouldnt be a curse,” Precious said.
However, the Bayelsa governor who is accused of concentrating development to his Sampou community in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA is funding shoreline protection along the Nun River which floods the Sampou area perennially.
The coastal communities who are rich in oil and gas deposits from which Bayelsa government earns billions of naira oil derivation revenue have decried neglect by successive administrations.
It would be recalled that last week, Bayelsa Development Initiative (BDI), a development oriented pressure group berated the Diri administration for neglecting the plight of coastal communities like Odioma and Koluama currently ravaged by coastal erosion.
BDI had in a statement wondered why the Bayelsa government has failed to address the loss of buildings to the rampaging Atlantic waves despite receiving ecological funds monthly.
Gov Diri, who visited Odioma told the people affected that ocean erosion that the scope of the state government to cope and was expecting the federal government to assist.
