..offers scholarship to late comedian’s children
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has extolled the virtues of a past president of foremost pan-Ijaw socio-cultural organisation, Ijaw National Congress, late Prof. Kimse Okoko.
Governor Diri said the departed Professor of Political Science was an elder statesman that not only lived an exemplary lifestyle but also impacted positively on lives of most Bayelsans as an academician, father figure, administrator and an activist that defended the rights of his people.
His spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor when the late Ijaw leader’s family visited him in Government House, Yenagoa, as saying, “Professor Kimse Okoko’s death is not only a loss to the Okoko family but also to the Gbarain Kingdom, Yenagoa Local Government Area, to Bayelsa State and indeed to Nigeria.
“He departed at a point we needed his wealth of experience. However, who are we to question God, particularly happening at a time when he had lost one of his illustrious sons, Keniebi Okoko?
“On behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa, I condole with your family. You came to formally inform me about our late leader’s passage even though in these days of social media, some people do not respect culture and tradition but had gone ahead to announce the death of an elder statesman like Professor Okoko. So I commend you for that.”
While assuring of the state government’s support during the funeral, Senator Diri said the deceased contributed to the development of his people and also earned the state honour in death as a former national president of the INC.
Speaking earlier, son of the deceased, Mr. Deinye Okoko, described his father’s death as a celebration of life, having lived as a great man.
The Bayelsa helmsman also received the family of late Dr. Michael Ogbolosingha.
He expressed sadness over the passing of the former comedian, who was a Special Adviser to former Governor Seriake Dickson.
According to Diri, “News of the death of the former Mayor of Yenagoa Local Government Council came as a rude shock. His sudden, unexpected demise left a yawning gap in the Ogbolosingha family, the Okordia/Zarama area and the entire state.”
He said the late Ogbolosingha was a key member of the Peoples Democratic Party that worked hard to ensure the success of the party in his ward and local government.
The governor announced an award of scholarship up to university level for the children of the deceased.
The younger brother of the former Special Adviser, Mr. Oyindeinyefa Ogbolosingha, thanked Senator Diri for his administration’s support to their family, especially in their moment of grief.
STORY 2
My administration’ll complete Sagbama/Ekeremor road – Diri
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has given a pledge that his administration would complete the road project from Sagbama to Ekeremor in the Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
Governor Diri gave the assurance on Saturday at the Isampou bridge, when he inspected the about 90-kilometre road project.
The major road project, which was undertaken by the immediate past government of Chief Henry Seriake Dickson, had been neglected for close to 40 years by successive federal administrations, including interventionist agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Senator Diri’s spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that during the governorship campaign, he promised to ensure the completion of the road project, assuring that he will not renege on that promise.
He explained that the inspection and the drive on the road became necessary to dispel insinuations that it had become impassable and that some communities had been cut off.
The governor directed the contractor to carry out remedial works to enable community folks use it during this rainy season before full work starts in the dry season.
He also assured that the road to Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, would equally receive priority attention from his administration.
He said, “I came to inspect this road after receiving complaints that some parts of the road were almost washed off and that it had become impassable.
“I also got reports that there was no access to some of the communities like Aleibiri. So, I came to see things for myself with the Commissioner for Works, the contractors and other relevant stakeholders.
“This was one of my campaign promises that where the former administration took this road to we will complete it to Ekeremor. We still stand on that. We will take this as one of our priorities. Same goes for the road leading to Oporoma in Southern Ijaw. I am very pleased I came to see things for myself and we will take it from here.”
Also speaking, Project Manager of Setraco, the firm handling the job, Mr. Mitchel Issa, stated that talks were ongoing with the state government to enable them return to site.
He assured that when completed the road will stand the test of time.
Earlier, Governor Diri visited the Pere of Tarakiri Kingdom, King Richardford Koroye, at Toru-Orua, where he thanked the people of the kingdom for their support during the election.
He appealed to them to support his administration to enable him succeed.
The governor was later treated to a grand reception at his maternal home, Ayamasa in Ekeremor LGA, where he also appreciated them for their support and promised to bring development to the area.