4 December 2011, Sweetcrude, Yenagoa – The people of the riverside Angalabiri community in the Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State weekend rolled out their drums to honour the Chairman of the council area, Prince Peres Peretu for the electrification of their community.
Though the pioneer civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha had seven years ago allocated a 500 KVA generating plant to Angalabiri but it could not be put to use as the community was not electrified.
Aside the recent electrification project embarked upon by the current council chairman, the first of its kind in the riverside community since the creation Sagbama local government in 1976, the once marshy community now boasts of a 15 feet wide concrete walkway which crisscross its length and breath.
In an address presented by the Angalabiri community on the occasion of the grand reception in honour of Prince Peres Peretu, Chief Famous Eseuduwo who spoke on behalf of the community said they have never had it so good since the creation of the local government area.
He said, “within the shortest period in office, Peres Peretu has provided a high degree of happiness to great number of people of Angalabiri community in particular and Sagbama council at large through several rural development projects.”
Eseduwo who is the Director General of Bayelsa Council for Arts and Culture added, “it is worthy of note that for over seven years a 500 KVA generating plant was allocated to Angalabiri community by the erstwhile Alamieyeseigha administration. This giant generating plant was of no use to the community over the years because there was no electrification in the community.”
He however noted with delight that the emergence of Peres Peretu, an indigene of the community as the executive chairman of the council area has turned around Angalabiri from grass to grace through his people oriented rural development programmes.
Eseduwo said it was for this singular reason that the community rolled out the drums to honour the council boss so as spur him into doing more for Angalabiri and also encourage him to do more for the entire council area.
The community used the occasion to call on the local, state and federal governments to stimulate the ongoing road project linking Angalabiri community with the rest of the world as well as help built a befitting health facility for their fast growing population.
While pleading with the relevant authorities to revisit the abandoned rural water project in the community, Eseduwo said, this explains the risk of degree of waterborne diseases in the community.
“It is sad to note that in 2000, Angalabiri community recorded a very high degree of infant mortality to the extent of losing an average of 5-10 children daily for a period of three months,” he said, adding “We shall therefore be grateful if the Bayelsa state government will come to our aid by completing the water project.”
Dignitaries that graced the occasion include, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Nestor Binabo, members of the state house of assembly, commissioners and other prominent Bayelsans.