By OFONIME UMANAH
Once you arrive Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, from any part of the world, hit the Azikoro village road and head towards Onuegbum community in the Ogbia Local Government. That is where your trip by a vehicle will end.
Take a walk towards the jetty and wait for a few seconds to join any of the available boats. In less than three minutes, you will find yourself in the community called Ayakoro, that Bayelsa community that has been transformed by a son in whom the entire community is well pleased.
Those who have not been to Ayakoro in the last four years would be as shocked as the community itself. Until 2023 when Dr Samuel Ogbuku emerged the managing director of the NDDC, nobody in the community would have believed that the sleepy, fishing and farming community would have played host to hundreds and thousands of visitors on a single day-for a thanksgiving service in an Anglican church.
In fact, if Ayakoro were a human being, it would even have been flummoxed by how it has transformed over the years, courtesy of Ogbuku- the town is not just lit up with solar street lights, concrete roads have been constructed, business is booming and city life is gradually creeping into the ancient Ogbia community. Ayakoro is certainly in awe, of what its son had turned it into.
Ogbuku, through the NDDC, has turned the community around. Some of those who were in the community on Sunday, August 24, to join the managing director in thanksgiving as he celebrated his golden jubilee, were even overheard saying they would consider acquiring property in Ayakoro, to either live or do business. They may have been fascinated by the allures and grandeur, the air and aerie around the community and the friendship and gracious smiles that the people offer, from the waterside to the sprawling facade that characterizes the Ayakoro lands.
The women, the children, the elders, the church showed the visitors how happy they were, and still are, with Ogbuku. They did not only dance in the church with him, they took every available space to show gratitude to God. Some displayed phenomenal masquerade dances, others just went gaga, gyrating tantalizingly.
Even the Bishop of the Diocese of Ogbia, the Rt. Rev. Tamunotari Matthew Obaze, did not hide his joy. He was grateful that God gave Ogbuku to the Ayakoro community. He was also happy that Ogbuku himself allowed God to use him as an instrument to turn things around in the community.
In praising Ogbuku for being humble in service to the people of the Niger Delta, he also praised him for not forgetting his village, even as the church was grateful to the managing director for his family’s decision to build a brand new worship centre for the Anglican Church, which is expected to be ready in another two weeks.
The clergy, who applauded the NDDC boss for recognising God’s favour in his life, said such an act was a gateway to more blessings for mankind.
In his sermon taken from the Book of Psalms 103, themed “There is a reason to praise God, “the clergy urged everyone to learn to appreciate the love of God in every situation, as demonstrated by the celebrant.
He stated: “It is essential for me to use this opportunity to thank God for what He is doing in the region through the Managing Director of NDDC, which is a clear indication of God’s special love for his life.
“Needless to say, he has encountered various challenges in life, yet he deemed it fit to come and appreciate God’s goodness upon him, and I want to encourage every participant, everyone, to learn from this trait of thanking God in good and bad times. Just within 50 years, God has used him to impact people’s lives”
The cleric further gave a thumbs-up to the NDDC’s helmsman for being a true son of the soil, adding that the church and the region were confident in the leadership qualities of Chief Samuel Ogbuku in bringing the dividends of democracy to the entire area.
In his message of appreciation, the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogboku, said the ceremony was put together to honour God for the love and achievements recorded in the region through the Commission under his watch.
The NDDC boss also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him, the board and management of the Commission, as well as staff who have contributed to his successes over the years.
He further stated that NDDC was committed to the ideal of partnering with the Bayelsa State Government in the area of development and human capacity building.
Many dignitaries, including the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai, and the Bayelsa State Representative on the Board of NDDC, Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa, and other Directors of the Commission, attended the thanksgiving service.
