Jubilation as Ogulagha chairman Bebapere marks one year anniversary, gives stewardship

• Says erosion watching away houses, cemeteries, corpses

•Seeks govt, IOCs, NGOs interventions

The chairman of Ogulagha community, Mr John Bebapere on Thursday marked his one year anniversary ceremony and presented a stewardship of his administration.

He expressed gratitude to God almighty, members of the community, the paramount ruler of Ogulagha Kingdom and traditional council of chiefs for their supports for the journey of the one year in office as chairman of the community.

The chairman also offered stewardship of his administration for the one year in office, adding that the massive achievement was due to the prevailing peace and the cooperation of the residents of the community.

While giving stewardship, Bebapere said his administration had influenced eight (8) SPDC scholarships, fifteen (15) Agip scholarships, four (4) heritage scholarships, Campus of Global Wealth University, employment of seven (7) indigenes as contract staff in SPDC, influencing of Health care centre through Burutu Local Government Council, cottage hospital build by Delta state government and provisions of medical equipment in the health facilities, construction of school building, construction of pavement, banning of hard drugs in the community and indecent dressing among girls and others.

The community chairman also highlighted some challenges faced by his administration in bid to transform things in the community during his one year administration ceremony, adding that more would be achieved in the remaining one year of his administration.

While appealing for cooperation among the community residents to enable him and his cabinet to do more in the remaining year of his tenure in office, Bebapere lamented over the massive erosion which had caused serious havoc in the community.

He stressed that houses, cemeteries and corpses had been watched away by the long time unaddressed erosion suffered by the community.

His words, “erosion is another main challenge in our community. As we speak today cemeteries, corpses and houses are being watched away. We have cried out several times but our cries seemed to be unheard. We called for shore protection/land reclamation by oil campanies and State and the federal governments as Ogulagha is a place of interest.

He continued, “Again oil Rigs have taking over Ogulagha rivers, creeks and lands. We can not go to fishing and farming again. This oil companies refused to give us employment. Our land and waters have been taken over by oil campanies without appropriate benefits. We are still suffering despite much of the federal allocation comes from Ogulagha community.

He went further: “Our road from Ogulagha to Okuntu and to Odimidi community and other internal roads are bad. We need it fixed by Delta state government and relevant government authorities. We equally need staff quarter for our health workers in the community. We need Civic center. Let government and IOCs help us”.

The community cried fold over the endless curfew imposed by soldiers in Ogulagha and Odimidi road, restricting movement from dust to dawn.
According to the community chairman, the curfew had lasted for about three years despite there was no fight among the two communities.

The community appealed to Delta State government and the military authorities to prevail on the soldiers stationed on the road to take off the curfew so to enable free flow of movement and farming activities on the road.

He also cited that dustbins dumped in the river by human activities have block chancels of water, major rivers and creeks, hence affecting fishing activities in the community.

Bebapere called for waste management agency in Delta state to come to their aid to clear the waterways and creeks for free flow of fishing activities in the community.

He further called on Non- governmental organizations and civil rights activists to prevail on IOCs and Delta state and federal government to address the above highlighted challenges in the community.

However, the community residents applauded the chairman for his good works and prayed for God protection, more wisdom, knowledge and understanding upon him to continue the development and transformation of the Ogulagha community.

One of the guest speakers of the event Pastor Ijomah ONeill, from the Bridge Church International, Jakpa Road, Warri, Delta State stressing on building institutions which evolved around values, knowledge, training and integrity among others in the community.

Others who spoke in the same vein were Dr Doubra Okotete, IYC Western Zone chairman, Rev. Ofonama and others. They appealed to the chairman not rule with vendetta or sentiment but always see everyone as his subjects in the community.

The event was massively graced by traditional rulers, political appointees, IOCs representatives, NGO coordinators, members of media, activists, youths and women of the community.