HISTORY: Kolokuma\Opokuma Local Government Area was created by the administration of General Sani Abacha in 1996 out of Yenagoa Local Government Area which was further split into three namely Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma\Opokuma Council Area. Of the three, Kolokuma\Opokuma is no doubt the least in terms of numerical strength and landmass but as it is commonly said small but mighty in ability. Kolokuma\Opokuma is made up of twenty autonomous communities. Kolokuma has ten, and Opokuma has ten towns and all have lived as one big indivisible and indissoluble family. It is also record that Kolokuma\Opokuma is the cradle and symbol for the struggle for the emancipation of the Ijaws from Socio-Economic and Political strangulations as well as other forms of social injustices meted out against the Ijaw Ethnic Nationalities by the Nigerian State. At the core of the 12-day revolution led by our illustrious sons late Jasper Adaka Boro, Nottingham Dick and the only survivor Chief Sam Owonaro were resource control, political autonomy and right to self-determination. Almost four decades after, same issues resurfaced under a new banner “The Kaiama Declaration“ which encapsulated the vision, mission and political future of the Ijaws in relation to the rest of the country. The response of the Federal Government to the 1998 Kaiama Declaration was at best bizaare. Instead of addressing the fundamental issues it mibilized troops to Kaiama and the resultant effects is better imagined than experienced. Buildings were razed while hundreds of law-abiding citizens of Kolokuma/Opokuma including the reigning Amananaowie of Kaiama were killed and maimed. As we speak some of the bodies could not be recovered for proper burial till date. A year later same scenario re-enacted itself in the sprawling city of ODI when the full weight of the Federal might was brought upon the innocent and harmless Kolokuma\Opokuma citizens. With all these, Kolokum\Opokuma still has some of the finest brains in the Military, Education, Politics, Banking, Medicine, Administration and Business who are still very active and willing to contibute meaningfully to the actualization for growth of the Nation. ECONOMIC RESOURCES: The land of Kolokuma\Opokuma is blessed with abundant Agricultural and Mineral resources which when properly harnessed will generate employment opportunities, create wealth for the citizenry and feed the Nation while the excess can be exported to earn foreign exchange. Cassava, Plantain, Yam, Cocoa Yam, Sgarcane, Potato, Palm-fruit, Orange and Groundnut are some of the crops produces in abundance in the Area. The Kolokuma\Opokuma people are engaged in subsistent and commercial farming, fishing, canoe carving, lumbering and Local Gin production. ACHIEVEMENTS OF LOCAL\STATE GOVERNMENT: Since the inception of the present leadership of Hon. Gbaranbiri Iselema, Kolokuma/Opokuma Council has recorded some modest achievements. The council interfaces on a regular basis with the 20 communities in the are with a view to identifying their needs and prioritizing them for implementation based on availability of funds. Apart from bringing ezperience and competence to bear in the art of governance, the Chairman Hon. Gbaranbiri Iselema and his team have been able to institutionalize Transparency and ensuer strict financial discipline in the running of the Council in line with the Restoration Agenda. For the first time in history, Hon. Gbaranbiri Iselema and his team under the Tate GovernmentCompulsory Savings Initiative have been able to save 16 million Naira. The Councilhas also awarded and mobilized the contractors to site for the building of an ultra-modern market at Kaiama the Council Headquarters. The proposed site has already been procured and surveyed. It is the expectation of the council, the work will commence after the Yuletide festivities. Within short time in office, the council leadership acquired 100kva generating plant and provided potable water in the Secretariate. It has also completed the building and furnishing of the Local Government Education Authority which is waiting to be inaugurated by His Excellency the Countryman Governor. Similarly, the Council has successfully renovated the Computer Centre, procured and installed modern facilities with about 30 sets of Computer units to enable our Youths become self-reliant and ICT compliant. Under the leadership of Hon. Gbaranbiri Iselema, the council paid the backlog of debts owed College of Health Technology, Otuogidi for the promotion of primary health care and manpower development in the Local Government Area. In thesame vain, the council has approved the payment of monthly allowances to traditionanl rulers in the LGA, provided free exercise books from classes 1-6 and Izon language book for pupils in Government Primary Schools. The Council has also mobilized contractors for the various ward projects which are currently in progress. The achievement of the Council will not be complete without copious reference to the immeasurable contributions of the Bayelsa State Government under the able, amiable and visionary leadership of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson who certainly will occupy a place of pride when the History of Bayelsa Satet will be rewritten for transforming the landscape of the Sate with his people-driven projects and programmes dotted across. Here in Kolokuma/Opokuma we will continue to express our deepest appreciation to your Excellency for the construction of the permanent site of the NYSC Orientation Camp which has given the area its current cosmopolitan Status. Also the construction of General Hospital Kaiama, Electrification of Sampou, construction of Hostel Blocks at GSS Odi, Sports Academy Asoama, Head-masters Quarters as well as renovation of Primary Schools, Payment of stipends to elderly people, and non-going construction work across the LGA particularly at Boro Town.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 10:40:02 +0000
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