AKEINFA, AGUDAMA-EPIE CLASH IN BAYELSA, AVOIDABLE-BEKEZIBE

The fierce battle the people of Akenfa and Agudama-Epie in the oil rich capital city of Bayelsa in the Niger Delta region had been described as avoidable. Speaking to Golden Pen on the battle that claimed 9 lives and hospitalised many in hospitals and private clinics in different parts of the state, a young opinion leader who gave his name simply as, Bekezibe said he was not happy over the security lapses that engulfed the two communities in what he described as a war. Mr. Bekezibe said, it was a big surprise that, the security outfit "DOUAKPO" did not do anything to stop the crisis, which according to him was avoidable. He went further to state that gone are the days when it was uneasy to get infortion, but not this digital,gsm era where in a state capital like Yenagoa, people carried guns and cutlasses to break the law with impunity, killing and inflicting injury on each other.Mr. Bekezibe who commended the state governor, Henry Seriake Dickson on his clean bill security profile called on the state government to constitute a panel to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the war and also probe into the security lapses in the area. It will be recalled that the two commonities went on rampage over a pieace of land last Friday carrying dangeraous weapons for war,a brotherly war that claimed 9 lives while some are stilll critical conditions, Bekeziba concluded.

BAYELSA POLITICS: BRASS SENTORIAL DISTRICT IN DISARRAY, BLEAK FUTURE AHEAD

It is now dramatically being played out in the politics of the day that, the people of Brass Senatorial District comprising of Brass, Nembe and Ogbia Local Government Areas are no longer towing same direction. There is said to be a serious and of course unprecedented political divide amongst the people from the per-colonial era to Nigeria Independence and to Creation Rivers State and now Bayelsa State.
Investigation shows that the former united Brass senatorial District is now a skeleton of itself existing only in name but no longer united. The past of what we have now as Brass Senatorial District was the Brass Division during the Colonial era which was the decider of victories at elections. That division later became a Local Government Area when Rivers State was created and still wielded that influence of been the decider at elections especially at governorship and presidential elections.
The Brass Local Government under the first Military Governor Lt. Commander A.P. Diete-Spiff was united and that played out when it came to inter state affairs. During that time Commander Diete Spiff and the then Commissioner of Police, Mr. Opuene Kue Berenah who loved the traditional sport of wrestling, and because they were all from the LGA had encouraged unity to ensure victory. That was the time the then Brass Local Government wrestling champion, Mr. Blackie came to limelight and his victories were celebrated as the victories of the entire LGA and not at all the victory of Ogbia wards he came from.
When Chief Okilo became governor of Rivers State the unity of Brass Local Government Area continued, and that was the secret of the rock strong political strength that gave Okilo victory and which he enjoyed in office as governor of Rivers State. At the creation of Bayelsa State, the former Brass LOcal Government Area comprising of Brass, Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas became a senatorial district. And that was celebrated by the people still in the spirit of unity jointly agreed that their political father, Chief Melford Okilo became the first Senator and he was collectively elected. After Okilo, Mr. Inatimi Rufus Spiff from Brass axis, then Nimi Barigha Amange and now Mr. Clever Ikisikpo as senator representing the area.
But that unity is becoming history, because things have fallen apart in the area and the political dichotomy of the senatorial district is becoming unpredictable as days continue to succeed one another through weeks, months and years. Some elders who were mindful of their well being in expressing their views preferred anonymity, said that it so sad that the Brass Senatorial District is in shambles and noted that if things were not put right on time the political future of the district will be sad.

TRADERS IN BAYELSA LAMENT ECONOMIC STAGNATION

Traders in Kpansia market in Yenago the capital city of Bayelsa have cried out what they described as economic stagnation in the past three months. Speaking to market survey reporters on Saturday, a trader who deals on shoft ware materials, who gave his name as, Mr. Anthony said the Kpansia market was booming until recently when sales began to drop and now is like 'we just come to play or while away time in the market."
The situuation was more severe with consumable items like fish, meat,chicken etc.
Narrating the challenges ahead, a  butcher, who gave her name as Rose explained that      the situation was so disturbing that they don't know how to go about preserving their unsold meat etc. to the next market day without incuring some loses.
According to her, when the economy of the state was better, people used to buy meat worth   a thousand naira or more, but now the highest bidders are those who buy two hundred naira worth of meat, she said.
The cause of the down turn economy had not been ascertained, but observers said that it may not be unconnected with  financial adjustments being made by the State Government with a view to gathering more funds to push the development of the state forward. This was confirmed by both political appointees and civil servants in various ministries that there was a cut of overhead cost of 40% in every Ministry and Parastatal, which they say had affected their family economies in a big way.
Some civil servants however attributed the economic down turn to unstable salary payment  by the ministries, suggesting that if salaries be paid as at when due the impact of transaction will be appreciated in the markets. Others however expressed the view that some have decided to save their salaries in preparation for the xmas festivities that is around the corner.

VICTORY OF THE GOLDEN EAGLET OVER MEXICO, STORIES FROM BAYELSA

Yenagoa was very calm just like every other Friday, when the government offices does not obey full time work and because I had what to do in some of the Ministries for update of information, I left my Biogbolo home and hurried down first to the Ministry of Education where I visited the offices of Chief B.F. Amakiri Duo and the Permanent Secretary for some discussion, before hurrying down to the Ministry of  Trade and Investment, where I also discussed some official matters before hurrying away after a touch to the Ministry of Information.
You may ask, why the mad hurry, what was pursuing me? The answer is as simply as the knowledge of the fact that the Golden Eaglet, Nigeria's under 17 football team will be locking horns withe Mexico at the world shocker competition, and I don't want to be told so I, went home but that was not all. I still had to do a job outside so I had to hurry down to Foto Legend at Imgbi road, to do some photo work. Thank God Adaeze Ezike the lady in charge of the office was not too busy to delay me. But her speed as far as I was concerned was not enough, I needed a magic touch of all that we were doing.
But knowing the precarious situation of the unpredictability of power supply in the state capital, Yenagoa, I had to call Ayebalayefa Evans, my son and asked him to ensure that there was enough fuel in the generator to enable us watch the match. I hurried out of Foto Legend telling Adaeze Ezike that I was to come back the following day to pick the job. And I went home, but the traffic was another problem.The gridlock was unimaginably worrisome, but thanks heaven I made after the Eaglets had scored their first goal.
The Mexicans intimidated our goal keeper with attacks but he was equal to the task, he caught and parried the ball proficiently  to the admiration of the spectators and attracted a lot of ovation. The eaglets played quality football, but missed many scores to the end of the first half of play. But when they went into the second half, they came stronger on Mexico and came victorious with 3 goals to none from Mexico. That was how I watch the match.   

NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER IN BAYELSA MARKS 60TH BIRTHDAY

The Celebrant, wife and others

Thanks Giving is the greatest thing to do in honor of the Lord by the sons and daughters of God who do not take casual the love of God and His mercies towards them. This came to the fore on the 27th of October, 2013, when the Publisher and CEO of the Golden Pen Newspaper in Bayelsa State, Chief Otonye Godman Evans-Tubonah went to the House of God for a thanks giving service. 

The service was held at the New Demonstrate Ministries Kolo where the Publisher gave a brief testimony of his journey through life in the past 60 years. Born on the 28th of October 1953, at a little village called Obiata in Nembe Bassambiri, in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State of Nigeria, Chief Evans Tubonah said he was not  born in the house but  on the road. 

According to him, it does not mean that his parent had no home, but it was because on that day of his birth his heavily pregnant mother, Mrs. Suota Evans Iyoyo went to the community lavatory behind the village around 5a.m, and that when she was returning was not able to make the journey back home because, I wanted to come out there. It was an emergency that caught the attention of other women and he born on the road side before his grandmother Titi Awori Mrs., who was the community's  midwife came my mother and my little self [her daughter and her grandson to the house]. 

He remarked that whereas it was not easy to grow to adult in a world where some did not make minutes on earth and others did not even see the light of day, stated that God had done so much for him and his family for keeping him alive to 60 years. 

He used the forum to tell younger people not to be in haste over anything emphasizing that no man has ever made any difference in life by personal effort or ability, without the God factor. 

He urged the people to be patient and look up to God, and work according to his ways, He who alone who has the power and will to kill or make alive. It was a remarkable and memorable ceremony put together by the Nembe born Publisher, Chief Evans Tubonah. People of all works of lif attended the occasion.