The entire youths of Bilabiri riverine communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, under the aegis of the Bilabiri Mein Kingdom Youths Wings, have openly expressed their grievances against successive administrations in the state, including that of the current “miracle Governor”, Douye Diri.

The Governor who described himself as a miracle Governor after being sworn-in following the Supreme Court judgment sacking David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared winner of the last governorship election in state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The youths who acknowledged good works of the Governor Douye Diri administration, expressed their “candid appreciation to the miraculous government on its developmental strides across some parts of the state”, saying “A big kudos to our miraculous government.”

However, lamenting lack of government presence in the oil-rich riverine communities, the youth group recalled that “the attention of the former prosperity government was formally drawn to the total neglect by same under the Senator Henry Seriake Dickson-led administration over the poor attention given to Bilabiri communities for years.

The Youth Leader and President General of Bilabiri Mein Kingdom Youths Wings Engr Azazi Deboh, in statement on behalf of the people of the riverine communities, noted that, in terms of infrastructures, the situation in the areas “remained unbearable even as it stands in this present government.”

Specifically, they told Governor Diri that “It is pertinent to emphatically state that in spite of several complaints made by the leadership of Bilabiri communities, with the highest production of crude oil and other mineral resources, to your government nothing meaningful had been done to ameliorate the effects of this deplorable situation as the story is told day by day.

“Your Excellency Sir, it is no longer news that Bilabiri youths have the strongest support for you and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and their votes have produced several governments from the creation of Bayelsa State yet we have been neglected for donkey years.”

Strongly accusing successive administrations of neglect of Bilabiri reverine communities, the youths noted that no government contract has been awarded in the communities just as there is “no employments, no light (electricity), no good water, no single government completed working project, no political appointments as Senior Special Assistants or into any board as members,” despite the ongoing rounds of appointments in the state.

The Youth Leader lamented that “Bilabiri youths have been abandoned amidst empty promises” by the “so-called miraculous government.

“Frankly speaking the entire Bilabiri Mein Kingdom has not held any reasonable political office as either Senior Special Assistant, Special Assistant, Commissioner or any befitting office from the rulership of the Peoples Democratic Party including your present regime since the creation of Bayelsa State.

“His Excellency Sir, just be reminiscent on how political appointments are made in the state, you will agree with us that the good people of Bilabiri communities have been sidelined by your government.

“According to Mr Tunwei Rawlings Amisa, Bilabiri Communities Schools has no teachers, both secondary and primaries, while there are unemployed graduates that can teach our future Leaders. Also no doctors, nurses and equipments in our health care center.

“Meanwhile, we the youths of Bilabiri communities have resolved and unanimously agreed to draw the attention of His Excellency to following areas of concern affecting Bilabiri communities:

(1) Appointment of Bilabiri youths into political offices to ensure inclusiveness in scheme of things in the state for the forth coming election.

(2) Construction of the abandoned Teacher’s quarter buildings and employment of our graduates as teachers to Teach in our Kingdom’s Schools,

(3) Construction of health care centers with equipments for condusive operation of doctors and nurses in Bilabiri communities and employment of our health care workers in the Health centers as Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Cleaners to safe lives.

(4) Appointment of Bilabiri youths as Senior Special Assistant, Special Assistant, Board members and CareTaker Committee members in the ongoing appointment by your miraculous government.

“In the light of the above mentioned issues raised, the Bilabiri youths humbly request the miraculous government to timeously address them so that Bilabiri youths can have a sense of belonging by the government.

The youths in the Bilabiri riverine communities vowed that “in case the government still pays deaf ears to our plights, we shall have no other option” but to escalate the issues raised.

“Enough is enough and we shall not fold our hands to watch this abnormally persists in our land”, the Bilabiri riverine communities further vowed.

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