Isaac Ombe –Yenagoa
A neglected oil producing community in Bayelsa State has warned that the peaceful disposition of its people in the face of total neglect by the oil multinationals and state government should not be seen as stupidity or that they cannot bite.
The Asamabiri community is in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state and the road leading to the community had been un-motorable for years even as successive administrations in the state had turned deaf ears to their plight despite its economic importance.
Inhabitants of the community have also appealed to Governor Douye Diri to extend his current development efforts to the community.
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Vice President of Asamabiri community, Mr. Charles Ebiaridoh, in an interview, decried the plight of the community including its abandoned road project that was once handled by the Niger Development Commission ( NDDC) has caused untold hardship on the people of the community.
He noted that despite the hardship faced by members of the community, unlike typical Niger Delta communities , the people of Asamabiri has not carried out violent protests but have remained peaceful. Their quite disposition shouldn’t be seen as stupidity , he warned .
“The oil companies should not take the simplicity of the people for stupidity,” the community leader warned.
While calling on the NDDC and the state government to do something about it, Ebiaridoh highlighted other economic importance of the road which includes leading to the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State which will make it a beehive of economic activities when constructed.
He pointed out that unlike most Niger Delta oil producing communities whose youths take laws into their hands to express their feelings through protests and pipeline vandalism and illegal refinery, the youths of Asamabiri community have maintained peace over the years.
According to him, “Politicians only come here during elections after which we don’t see them again.
“With good road farm produce can easily be transported , thereby promoting commercial activities and improved livelihood”, he added , stressing “there is no electricity and pipe borne water in Asamabiri save a functional health facility.”
Another community leader, Mr. Napoleon Ekperi, who spoke in the same vein, decried the continued neglect of the community by successive administrations in the state and oil multinational companies operating in the area.
Ekperi, who lamented the deplorable state of the road leading to the community and the absence of other important infrastructures, in an interview noted that the situation has deprived the hitherto economically viable community of developmental opportunities.
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According to him , the construction of a motorable road would go a long way in enhancing the socio-economic development of the oil and agriculture based community.
Describing motorable road as key to the development of any community, he says Asamabiri is lacking such an important infrastructure and called on Bayelsa State Government , the Member representing the constituency in the state House of Assembly and oil companies operating in the area to look into the plight of the community that has been bedeviled by an inaccessible dangerous road.
“I appeal to all relevant government agencies, stakeholders and multinational oil companies operating in the community to give Asamabiri prominent attention”
“The Douye Diri-led prosperity government should come to our aid,” he further appealed.
