Author name: Kola Oredipe

DO YOU KNOW BAYELSA?Brief History and Creation of Bayelsa StateThe story of the creation of Bayelsa state is laced with a long and rich history. The story is often likened with the experience of the Israelites whom God delivered and led to their promised land, a land that flows with milk and honey.A state the people longed to have; a product of long years of negotiation and waiting. Port Harcourt, being the capital of the old Rivers State, was home to many Ijaws including those from the present day Bayelsa State.Majority of people of Bayelsa extraction in the old Rivers State lived around water front settlements; from Gbundu Water front to Nembe, Okrika, Captain Amangala, Nnanka, Egede/Ekwele and the Marine Base water fronts.This is without prejudice to the fact that the first military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diette-Spiff and the first elected Governor of the state, Chief Melford Obiene Okilo, were both of Bayelsa extraction.It was reminiscent that the Ijaw nation being the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria indeed, needed to enlarge its coast. The creation of additional state, a homogenous Ijaw state to the existing Rivers State became desirable.So, it was a great jubilation then, when the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, announced the creation of Bayelsa State in his Independence Day broadcast on October 1st, 1996.Bayelsa State was created alongside five other states as Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa and Zamfara.Although, Bayelsa may not be in the Promised Land yet, the creation of this new state out of old Rivers State has opened up a new vista of opportunities of self-actualisation for sons and daughters of the Ijaw land.The creation of the state with the slogan, “Glory of all Lands”, was sequel to a long period of regional agitation for new states in Nigeria. The case for Bayelsa was strong on the premise that the Ijaw nation is the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria and needed a state to serve as a bond of unity.A lot of negotiation, meeting and consensus building by prominent Ijaw elders who stood firm to demand the creation and some of the names listed here featured in literatures: Late Chief N.A. Frank- Opigo, Chief Francis Doukpola, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, Dr. Amba Ambaowei, Late Chief Melford Okilo, Chief Dan Etete ,Late Senator Amaitari Zuofa, Chief Gordon Bozimo, Venerable Lissen Atari Adou, Comr. T. K. Ogoriba, HRM. W. S. J. Igbugburu, HRM. N. S. Orianzi, HRM J. A. Ere, Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni, Late Dr. Gabriel Okara, Prof. T. T. Isoun, Sir Dr. Gabriel Lambert Eradiri, Chief J. K. Braimbaifa, Mr. Prince Kainga, H. E. Sen. Douye Diri and Chief Thompson Okorotie, who eventually coined the name “Bayelsa” from the names of the three existing Local Government Areas at the time. This list is however, not exhaustive.How these persons contributed to the creation of Bayelsa State and the level of their involvement in the struggle for a homogenous Ijaw state, the drama and intrigues, is a story for another day and may form part of our subsequent series.Bayelsa State presently is made up of eight Local Government Areas and they are: Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Southern Ijaw, Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama and Ekeremor.According to the National Population Commission (NPC) in 2016, Bayelsa State has an estimated population figure of 2,277,961, occupying an area of 10,773 per square kilometres with a population density of 211.4 per square kilometres.The state is geographically located between Delta and Rivers States in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and politically in the South-South Zone.Bayelsa State has a riverine and estuarine setting. Many communities are almost (and in some cases) completely surrounded by water, making them inaccessible by road.Do you know that Bayelsa is home to the Edumanom Forest Reserve? In June 2008, it was the last known site for Chimpanzee in the Niger Delta.Other important towns and places besides the state capital Yenagoa include Akassa, Lobia, Amassoma, Eniwari, Ekeremor, Aleibiri, Peretoru, Peremabiri, Biseni, Twon-Brass, Okpoama, Kaiama, Nembe, Odi, Ogbia, Oporoma, Otuan, Sagbama, Olugbobiri and Sampou, the community of the current Governor, Senator Douye Diri.Bayelsa State has one of the largest crude oil and natural gas deposits in Nigeria, as a result, petroleum production is extensive in the state. Bayelsa State holds the historical record of being the first state where crude oil was found in commercial quantity in Nigeria in 1956 in Otuabagi/Otuogidi in the Oloibiri District of Ogbia Local Government Area.However, majority of Bayelsans are mainly rural dwellers and the local population engage in farming and fishing in subsistence and commercial levels.You may also wish to know that the oil-rich State of Bayelsa has huge deposits of solid minerals such as clay, sand and salt in commercial quantities? Clay and sand are used in the production of ceramics, tiles, glass and other building materials.Major dialects spoken by the people include Izon, Ogbia, Nembe, Akassa, Epie, Biseni with a small population of Isoko and Urhobo speakers. The official language of the people is English like every other part of Nigeria.Do you also know that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria, is from the blessed state of Bayelsa? The state has scored many first and indeed it is the Glory of all Lands full of great potential waiting to be tapped.Credits/Information Source: Wanama Dandyson, Kola Oredipe and Stephen Olali.

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Bayelsa To Refurbish Imiringi Gas Turbine Plant, Build New Ones

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…. As Foreign Partners Inspect Imiringi Gas Turbine The Bayelsa State Government says it has commenced the process of refurbishing the Kolo Creek Gas Turbine plant at Imiringi, in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.. It has also indicated its intention to build new gas turbine plants to create an enabling environment for …

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STEM-A-THON ROBOTIC COMPETITION: Gov. Diri receives two Robotic wonder Bayelsa kids, PraiseGod, Victor OforjiPraiseGod Oforji- Oboku and Victor Oforji-Oboku, two sons of Hon. Oforji Oboku, have emerged national champions in the recently concluded STEM-A-THON Robotic competition.11- year old Victor emerged overall first position while his older brother, PraiseGod 12 years emerged third position in the virtual and physical assessment.The two sons of member of the National Assembly representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, were received by Governor Douye Diri today as worthy ambassadors of Bayelsa State.The duo and two others would be representing Nigeria in the Robotic competition in the world stage later in November this year in Panama City, United States of America.Congratulations!

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PROSPERITY 2.0

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Massive Progress Under Prosperity Govt: Opening Up Yenagoa City With Roads The Prosperity Government is very deliberate towards building a new capital city, Yenagoa. Apart from the remodeling and beautification of popular Etegwe/Edepie roundabout, the current administration is constructing two new roads from Igbogene town, the entry point, to open up the State capital for …

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