In this Interview with His Royal Highness (chief) Wariebi Berebozigha the Ama- Miepinamo Owei 13th of Federated Ikarama Communities in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa state, who invited all his cabinet members before he spoke to ODIE RAMON, his achievements and neglect by governments,oil companies and Niger Delta Development Commission and appealed for Attention.
May we know you?
My name is His Royal Highness (Chief) Wariebi Berebozigha, the Ama- Miepinamo Owei 13th of Federated Ikarama Communities.
I ascended the throne on 10th February 2024 and barely a year on the throne. I have done my best since my ascension to the throne by installing solar lights, even though we are aware that Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC have illuminated the region with solar light, but Ikarama community being an oil producing community has been forgotten for no cause of ours. All the solar lights you see on ground were Community efforts. We have built an auditorium. l have also constructed two roads, Town hall for recreation. These are my modest achievements within this short period so far and with God and support and cooperation from my subjects, l promised to do more when the opportunity beckons.
My community is a peaceful and peace loving, but despite the fact that we are not violence, non interference with oil installations, pipeline Vandalism and oil theft, the Bayelsa state government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and oil companies, SPDC and Nigeria Agip Oil company that have been operating in this area for decades have continued to undermine our peaceful disposition. There is a proverb that says, that the cow that doesn’t have a tail, it’s only God that drives away flies from it’s tails.
Ikarama federated communty is an oil producing community, what are some of the benefits you have gotten since your enthronement?
Apparently, we are an oil producing community where Shell petroleum Development Company has been and Nigeria Agip Oil company have operating for decades, but we have nothing to show for their presence here. When you go round the community you will see pipelines cris crossing everywhere and the roads and bridges you see were constructed by these oil giants to their flow stations or facilities. These two are the major oil companies that been before our fathers were born and we have subjected a lot of problems such as environmental degradation, sickness and diseases associated with oil pollutions which are very common here.
Between 1988 and 1995,one of the oil companies, NAOC deemed it necessary to come to our aid by constructing a health centre, equiped and was left without being used and was overtaken by weeds and reptiles and eventually vandalized. It recently took the magnanimity of the Bayelsa state governor Senator Douye Diri, his deputy senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and Commissioner of Health Prof Seiyefa Brisibe when the health centre was turned to cottage hospital and government gave directives that staff should be deployed for it to commence services. We are eternally grateful for this singular gesture.In the light of the neglect,my people and youths remain law abiding without resorting to violence,protest, pipeline Vandalism and oil theft.Our community is one of the most peaceful communities in the state.
Besides, the SPDC gave us light, but it was connected to Adibawa flow station, hence once they were put off, we were thrown into darkness. Like l have earlier said, the pockets of roads and bridges constructed by these oil companies were for their own interest. NAOC gave us a generator and expected us to contribute to buy diesel fuel. My people are poor peasant farmers and cannot afford to levy our people to buy diesel for the generator to supply us power and that has affected the water they provided. But SPDC provided us with water and the guest house it started has been abandoned. Only God knows when they will resume work, because once that guest house is completed it will generate some revenue for us.
The Ikarama community is being marginalized by the Bayelsa state government in terms of infrastructure development and political appointments. It is the biggest community with the largest population in the Okordia clan. As you enter from East – West road junction were you have Zarama market every Friday, all the communities have functional secondary schools with buildings and perimeter fencing to protect the infrastructure and the students and teachers. The Commissioner of education, Dr Gentle Emelah and Honorable member representing Yenagoa constituency 3, Hon Ted Elemoforo are from there respectively.
But come to community secondary Ikarama, the buildings are old and the school does not have perimeter fencing. That is why the school is being vandalized and the electricity provided by SPDC to power the bore hole is affected and students will have to fetch water manually into the tanks for their use while in school and for the Corp Members serving there.
The school also lacks other infrastures like chairs and toilets, as students that have to answer nature calls have to contend with snakes.Reports also have that due to poor supervision by the post primary school board, teachers and principal come to school at their own convenience. Am calling on relevant agencies to address the school problems as most students are indigent and orphans, but need education to liberate themselves and for this reason most of the students have dropped out. The students need scholarships.
The community also appealed to the state government through the local government area chairman to provide them with their own market instead of relying only on the weekly market of Zarama along the East West road junction. We are ready to provide land and support the construction of our own market here.
Ikarama community with its large population of about 1000 registered voters have only one pulling unit, hence during election, the collation of their votes were always delayed and before their votes will arrive officials must have gone to Yenagoa. We therefore call on relevant bodies to kindly create more pulling units for the lkarama community.
Recently, the foremost Bayelsa Media Network Award, BMNA, nominated you for being the Traditional Ruler of the year. How do you feel about this prestigious award?
To be candid, I was surprised when the organization came to my place to announce it. And that is why it was announced, l made sure the entire community, the Deputy paramount ruler, Community Development Chairman, CDC, Youth leader, Women leader and other stakeholders were invited to the palace and you can see the palace was filled before the Bayelsa Media Network Award member gave me the nomination. Am eternally grateful for considering me worthy of that award and that will continue to spur me to do more in my unwavering commitment in service delivery to my people and it also surprised me as l did not solicit for this award coming from the fourth estate of the realm. I will not take this award for granted, but will treasure it for posterity.
