Communal Dispute: 50 years after, Bayelsa Govt approves Ayakiri community among SPDC host community

The Bayelsa State Government has approved the Ayakiri Community in Gbarain Clan of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the State as one of the communities serving as host to the operations of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the State.

Ayakiri Community, according to the approval dated 16th of December, 2020 with reference number MLG/ADM/187/T/66 and announced by the State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development and signed by the Commissioner, Hon. Thomson Amule and Permanent Secretary, Adeh Ebiere, was separated from Ogboloma community of the Gbarain clan in the Yenagoa local Government council.
Ayakiri, which is formerly known as Igbenbiri compound, will now be a recognized host community of the SPDC with its abundance in oil and gas resources for exploration.

Confirming the development during a peace and thanksgiving celebration, the Elders and Youths of the newly recognized Ayakiri community led by the Former Chief Medical Director of the Bayelsa State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Benjamin Tabowei said the approval will bring more peace and development to the area.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Organising committee of the inaugural Ayakiri Peace and Thanksgiving day, Chief Bruce Buba said though Ayakiri community is traditionally made up of Inebraton, Onunu, Waripamo, Makurai, Egbuke,Timizi families as direct descendants of Ogboloma Community in Gbarain kingdom during the slave trade era and has had historical controversy over issue of status which was further broken by a comment that Ogboloma only have Four compounds excluding Igbenbiri.

According to him, the comment was the last stroke that broke the camel’s back and led them to approach the Bayelsa State Government for registration and recognition. They were duly recognized and the process to gazette the approval within the first quarter of the New Year is ongoing.”

The acting Paramount Ruler of the Community, Chief Emmanuel Onunu, in a chat with newsmen, called for unity among the indigenes of the newly approved community and its neighbors, praying that God will help the four months old community to achieve its desired goals and development.

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