Hon. Obein Lauds Ayakoro Community For Upholding Traditional Heritage
By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa, Trek Africa Newspaper
The members representing Ogbia Constituency II in the Bayelsa State House of assembly under the platform of All Progressive Congress, Hon (Chief) Godknows Obein, has emphasised the importance of preserving cultural heritage, describing it as a valuable resource that fosters unity, social cohesion, and economic growth through tourism.
Hon.Obein made this statement at 67th Ayakoro Eyal Obeyin festival, held at the HRM King Nathan Square, ayakoro Community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.
“This annual celebration promotes harmony, collaboration, peace, and tolerance. This 2025 edition of the celebration marked the 67th anniversary of the festival.
“It embodies the spirit of resilience and determination exhibited by the community’s forebears. By celebrating this festival, the community honours their forebears’ resilience and determination in the face of adversity.”
“Cultural festivals play a vital role in preserving our traditions, fostering social bonds, boosting tourism, and promoting group identity and unity.
The lawmaker noted that the festival serves as a link to the cultural history and identity of the Ayakoro people, stressing the need to preserve and celebrate their heritage with pride.
The lawmaker commended the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr.Samuel Ogbuku, for the various infrastructure developments in the Niger Delta region.
He recalled that Ayakoro annual festival, which has become a cultural tourism component called the Eyal Obeyin crossing, was born out of the need to honour and immortalise the founding fathers of blessed memory. These founding fathers then, due to their visionary leadership style, embarked upon and accomplished such a great feat of the historic resettlement of the entire people of the Ayakoro community on the 12th of February 1958, from the old settlement to the present day Ayakoro. The visionary efforts of the founding fathers were propelled by the significant threat posed by coastal erosion, bearing in mind the untold suffering the future generations might face.
Reiterating his commitment to pushing for legislation that improves the lives of his constituents, the Assembly member said he would also prioritise the welfare of his constituents through empowerment initiatives and projects.
In his welcome address, the Chief host and the Royal Highness of Ayakoro community, Righteous Inegbagha said, Ayakoro Annual Festival called EYAL OBEYIN- (crossing) was born out of the need to honour as well as immortalizing the founding fathers of blessed memory on this wise.
According to him, the founding fathers were the leaders of the time who by their visionary leadership style embarked and accomplished such a great feat of historic settlement of the entire people of Ayakoro community on the 12th day of February,1958, from the old settlement to the present day Ayakoro.
“This visionary efforts of the founding fathers was propelled by the significant threat posed by coastal erosion bearing in mind the untold suffering the future generation might face. While the foregoing remain an impeccable truth, in fact, they deserve an extra ordinary celebration.
” Let me remind all sons and daughters of Ayakoro community that we owe a duty to our founding fathers. They have laid the foundation upon which we to grow. It’s now our duty to continue from where they stopped. I urged all of us to see ourselves as a generation of progressively minded people and behave accordingly.
“I tasked all progressive to get involve in creative thinking, forward-thinking ideas and a focus on achieving a significant change or improvement going beyond the existing status quo. Our destiny like a fragile vessel is in our hands today. Undoubtedly,our salvation lies in our preparedness to leave in harmony, collaboration and reciprocal veneration and tolerance. Let us remember that united we stand and divided will fall”.
The Highness used the medium to thank Edo state governor, senator Monday Okpebholo who is the chairman of the occasion and the MD/CEO of NDDC (Dr). Samuel Ogbuku and other dignitaries that attended the ceremony.
