Erosion Ravages Gbekebor as Delta Assembly Hopeful Kerry Yingi Pledges Intervention

By Joseph Bienbo, Warri

The ancient Gbekebor community in Burutu North Constituency 1, has been devastated by coastal erosion, with residents of the community in Ogbolubiri Kingdom lamenting years of neglect.

The Seimbiri Youths Political Forum, SEYPF, disclosed this at the weekend, saying the perennial erosion that has plagued Gbekebor and other riverine communities in Burutu North would be a top priority if Mr Kerry Yingi receives the people’s mandate in the 2027 general elections.

According to the group, the Gbekebor community, the maternal home of Mr. Kerry Yingi, has battled erosion for decades, with homes, farmlands, and parts of the community shoreline washed away.

“This erosion has been worrying about the Gbekebor community for many years. Our people live in constant fear, especially during the rainy season,” said Comr. Afore Ebimoboere, leader of the Seimbiri Youths Political Forum.

Ebimoboere assured constituents that Mr Kerry Yingi would deploy his office to tackle the ecological crisis if elected.

“If the Burutu North constituency gives Mr. Kerry Yingi the mandate come 2027, he will try his best to stop this perennial erosion that has been worrying about some of the communities in the constituency,” she stated.

She stressed that Kerry is not joining politics for money or fame but out of concern for the underdevelopment of Ijaw communities.

“We Ijaws have the oil that feeds the nation, but there is no development. What is happening to us?” Ebimoboere queried, describing the situation as painful.

The youth leader said Kerry, pained by the “singular fact of our underdevelopment,” is offering himself to serve and bring change to the area.

“Even if he couldn’t do it with his office, he will seek assistance from his boss, His Excellency Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State. He will also collaborate with relevant government agencies such as the NDDC and DESOPADEC to bring the needed development to the constituency,” Ebimoboere added.

Making a direct appeal to voters, Ebimoboere said: “I’m appealing for the constituents to give him the mandate. He is not going to disappoint you.”

She said the group is advocating “youths o’clock” – a call for young people to take over government positions and drive change.

“The underdevelopment in Ijaw areas has been on for so long. It’s been like this since independence up till today. People are always representing us in every dispensation but we remain the same without any form of development,” she lamented.

Ebimoboere insisted that Kerry’s candidacy marks a departure from the past.

“There must be a difference this time around with Kerry Yingi in the driving seat in Burutu North Constituency 1. The young Yingi is not coming out for this position to play. He has seen that it is only serious participation in politics that can bring the needed development to one’s area,” she said.

Gbekebo is one of several communities in Ogbolubiri Kingdom, Burutu LGA, facing severe environmental degradation due to river erosion and flooding. Residents have repeatedly called on the state and federal governments for shoreline protection projects but have yielded no results.