By Chiemeka Green, Yenagoa
The youth president of Elebele Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State last Thursday decried the lack of social amenities in the area saying they have been abandoned by the three tiers of government.
The leader of Elebele Youths, Mr. Okala Azibola, stated this while conducting National Point round various sites of abandoned projects in the community, including a 33 years old bridge that collapsed recently, disconnecting vehicular movement in and out of the community.
Mr. Azibola, who had spent major part of his life in Elebele, said people of the oil producing community had to provide power supply by themselves due to the lack of electricity.
Azibola also decried the total absence of a Primary Health Care Centre in the community, stressing that there was an urgent need to build one because the people of the community are compelled to travel long distances to get medical care.
He also alleged that the lives of pregnant women and children in the area were in danger as they have to travel all the way to Yenagoa to get medical attention even in cases of emergency.
According to him, Elebele has no good road facility and proper drainage system, making the roads in the area unusable during the rainy season.
Explaining further, he pointed out that the 33 years old bridge that collapsed recently is the shortest route linking Bayelsa East Senatorial District, comprising of Ogbia, Nembe and Brass LGAs, to the state capital, Yenagoa.
“This is the second time this bridge is collapsing. The bridge was built by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the late 80s. The collapse of this bridge is making life difficult for our people because transport fare to Yenagoa from Elebele has doubled.” Azibola lamented.
He also complained of the poor condition of the Senior Secondary School in the community, stating that community members had to send their children to schools in other communities because they can’t afford to allow them study under harsh conditions.
He stressed that the secondary school building constructed by the Dickson administration at the state level, needs urgent renovation as it may also collapse soon.
“As a matter of fact, Elebele community lacks these basic social amenities. As an oil producing community which has contributed immensely to the growth of this nation, we are not supposed to lack these basic social amenities in this modern age and time,”Azibola stated.
He appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency build a new bridge, a school, an health center, provide electricity, water supply and rehabilitate the roads in and around the community, lamenting that in spite of various complaints made to the relevant authorities, “nothing has been done’’.
The youth leader revealed that the community has decided to oppose any politician that would make promises and not fulfill them in the forthcoming November 16 governorship election, as theyare fed up with their deceit.
“When the time comes, we will not vote for anybody anyhow again like we used to. They have been deceiving our people making promises and we have not seen any positive development.
“I also want to appeal to multinational oil companies operating in this area, especially SPDC and Agip, to come to our aid.
“Am also using this medium to appeal to the managing director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to look into our sad story”, he said.
