It was Celebration and thanksgiving galore as friends and well wishers joined the entire People of the newly inaugurated Ayakiri Community in Gbarain Kingdom, Yenagoa Local Government Area on its maiden Independence Peace rally.
The event which was chaired by Dr. Benjamin Tabowei, former Chief Medical Director ( CMD) Bayelsa State Hospital Management Board attracted dignitaries from all works of life, traditional institutions, Youth group, multinationals operating in the area as well as several guests celebrating the autonomy of the new Community christianed ” Ayakiri” translated in English to mean “New Land”.
The one day program held on the 30th of December 2021 kicked started with a peace rally round the entire Gbarain Clan led by the Acting Youth President, Comr.Taye Bruce accompanied by hundreds of youths in a carnival.
Pastor Mac Prince of the living word church, Ayakiri in his exaltation and dedication of the community to God charged the people to build their foundation on God and live a Godly life to attract Gods manifold blessings.
The Clergy took turns to dedicate the men, women, youths and children of the new Community.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Organizing Committe, Chief Bruce Duba went into memory lane to recall the history of Ayakiri Community, He Said:
“Ayakiri Community traditionally made up of Inebaraton,Onunu, Waripamo, Makurai, Egbuke, Timizi Families is a direct descendant of Ogboloma Community in Gbarain Kingdom, during the slave trade era, centuries ago, Ogbolo( Founder of Ogboloma Community)ran to nearby bushes for safety for his children not to be sold leading to chaos and panic, “Igben” one of the sons of Ogbolo at that time also ran for his safety and settled in a place called “Doubofi” in etelebou and was shocked to see one of brothers “Osuo” during one of his farming expendition and was informed that the entire Ogboloma People’ had returned, “Igben” founder of Ayakiri later joined his brothers, Okumo, Odon, Okolo and Osuo in Ogboloma and stayed briefly with his brother “Osuo” his benefactor as his hut had been damaged, years later “Igben” built a home in his present Ayakiri Ama settlement and moved with his children, but years later, the wrong notion that Igben was only a stranger in Ogboloma( As he did not resettled with them after the big return)and not a bonifide son of Ogbolo started crippling out from some quarters, which generated much controversy over the past fifty years, Chief Faithful Tebepina, Paramount Ruler of Ogboloma and custodian of the Ogbolo heritage during an interview with Rythm f.m, (94.7) Yenagoa on the 1st day of September 2020 stated that Ogboloma had four compounds alone excluding Igbenbiri, indeed , this was the last stroke that breaked the camel’s back.
The now Ayakiri Community people regrouped, held several meetings and took their destiny in their hands and today even though there are still several hurdles to cross, the Bayelsa State Ministry of Community Development and chieftaincy Affairs on the 20th day of September 2020 recognized Ayakiri Community with a certificate and also commenced the process to gazette it in the first quarter of 2021″.
The Acting Amananaowei Chief Emmanuel Onunu in his remarks called for unity and prayed God to help the four months old Community to achieve it’s desired goals in it’s bid to contribute to National Development in line with the Community motto: “In God we Trust.”
The special guest of honor and Chairman of the Independence Peace rally, Dr. Benjamin Tabowei Lauded the Ayakiri people for their courageous steps, he called on indigenes of the area to remain in one voice and be patriotic to the Development of the area by remaining focus in this choosen path of history.
Father of the day, Hon. Simon Sikoki, former Rural Development Area Chairman in Southern Ijaw, former Paramount ruler of Nedugo Community in Gbarain Kingdom, Chief Ugu Buodeigha, Chief Okponipre Eugene, former Agbia Community monarch, President of the Apex youth group in the clan, the Gbarain Youths Federation, Comr. Iwe Okponipre, Barr. Ebiye Waripamo, A legal Luminary and Politican from Ayakiri Community, Comr. Zamabo Wozi, A grassroot Politican, Comr. Goodluck Ituh, Former Chairman, PDP, Yenagoa Local Government Area, the Agudama-Ekpetiama Divisional Police Officer, ( DPO) Mr. O. Ekperemo gave several Goodwill messages to the newly inaugurated Community.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the unveiling of the new Community signpost, dance by men, women, youths, Children and invited Guests, as well as prayers for the new Community (Ayakiri).
Ayakiri Community will be the thirteenth autonomous Community in Gbarain Clan after Nedugo splited from Agbia, Kumbo-ama from Okolobiri, Asaingbene and Tunama from Obunagha, Ayama from Okotiama and now Ayakiri from Ogboloma Community in Gbarain Clan in the state seat of power, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
From SPDC 2018 annual report, the new Ayakiri Community, (formerly Igbenbiri Compound) blessed with vast oil and gas resources contributes largely to the National and State economy through its oil and gas field in Etelebou.
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