By John Odhe, YENAGOA
The second day of the ongoing celebration of the 30th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State was an elegant display of a rich culture of the Ijaw people as well as musical talents from the state.
The colourful event featured a cultural carnival with floats conveying Bayelsans from each of the eight Local Government Areas decked in different beautiful, cultural attires and costumes in a street rally from Igbogene to the Oxbow Lake pavilion in Yenagoa.
The event also featured boats regatta, in which the state governor, Senator Douye Diri himself personally participated, further displaying the rich cultural heritage of the Ijaw nation.
Pleased with the events, the State governor, Diri officially declared the occasion an annual celebration henceforth.
The governor made the declaration at the Oxbow Lake pavilion while delivering his speech after the carnival.
He said the proposed annual cultural celebration would also promote the tourism potentials of the Oxbow Lake pavilion and boost local and foreign investment in the tourism sector.
Diri disclosed that a contract had already been awarded to further develop the Oxbow Lake pavilion to world class tourism centre.
Addressing a large crowd of esthetic looking Bayelsans, Diri hinted that his decision to make the cultural display an annual event was reached after his consultative meeting with a few critical stakeholders in the State.
He noted that the anniversary celebration was devoid of political colourations, but for all Bayelsans who meant well for the State and appreciated the progress made so far in the past thirty years.
The governor added that he was pleased to see the people in the mood of happiness.
The governor averred that governance was not all about building infrastructure but also to bring joy and pride to the people.
He described the Ijaw nation as an industrious and hard working ethnic nationality with a very rich cultural heritage that needed to be sustained and preserved for posterity.
He noted that the large turnout was evidence of the peoples’ satisfaction with the milestone made so far since the creation of the State by the former and late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Acknowledging the fact that the State had yet to reach her developmental destination, the governor, however, pointed out that the State was no longer where it used to be thirty years ago.
Alfred Izon-Ebi, popularly known as Junior-King Robert Ebizimor, and other Ijaw traditional musical artistes were on hand to supply music as the joyous Bayelsans responded with scintillating dance steps.
