Bakana Women Reaffirm Total Support For Governor Fubara’s Administration

••• As Special Projects Commissioner Injects N6Million To Stimulate Local Economy
••• Extends Women Empowerment Scheme To 17 Wards Of DELGA

Sunday, 10th October would remain indelible in the annals of history in Bakana, as an illustrious son of the soil and Honourable Commissioner for Special Projects, Chief Dr. Roland Obed-Whyte, rained showers of blessings on one hundred women of the community, to support their business ventures.

The historic 20 persons per ward business empowerment scheme, which was flagged off penultimate weekend in the commissioner’s country home of Ward 2, was extended to the remaining five wards of Wards 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6 respectively, totaling one hundred and twenty (120) beneficiaries, who were each given Fifty Thousand Naira (50,000) to stimulate their existing businesses.

Speaking during the programme, which took place in the various benefitting wards of the community, the Commissioner encouraged the recipients to judiciously utilize the funds to reinvigorate their businesses, rather than squander it as a free money from government.

He stated that he was inspired by his principal’s Rivers First agenda to embark on the programme of giving back to the community and the LGA, disclosing that the gesture would be extended to all wards of the LGA, in appreciation of Governor Siminalayi Fubara who graciously appointed him to serve the State.

Dr. Obed-Whyte specially thanked the governor for commencing the main Trans-Kalabari Road project, which would connect Bakana to the mainland and position the community for economic boom in the years to come, adding that no true Bakana indigene would join forces with any individual or group of persons to oppose Governor Fubara, who has shown compassion and commitment towards the development of Bakana and Kalabari in general, by executing the highest project of his administration which is worth N225billion in Degema LGA alone.

The commissioner called on other public office holders across board to always remember their people, by initiating schemes that would uplift their living conditions, noting that he was not contesting elections, but embarked on the project to encourage the people for their steadfastness with the Governor Fubara administration.

“We are here in fulfillment of our promise and commitment to our people. Do not eat alone as a politician; if God blesses you, please also be a source of blessing to others.

“We observed that our local economy is gradually dying, so we decided to support our women who are petty traders to boost their businesses.

“The governor is doing a lot to support entrepreneurs in the State and he has recently released a whopping One Billion Naira to boost ventures, so this is our own little way of complementing the governor’s efforts.

“Our assurance to the governor is that we as Bakana, Degema and Kalabari people are grateful to him for remembering us by executing the main Trans-Kalabari Road, which many administrations have promised and failed us. We shall stand with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the end for this singular reason and many others.”

Some of the beneficiaries who expressed their gratitude for the gesture, disclosed that they had never seen such magnitude of support from any politician in the LGA, praying God to continue to uplift and sustain their benefactor in all his endeavours.

Madam Otorubioba Duke, a beneficiary from Ward 6, particularly thanked the commissioner for his kind gesture, noting that it was an unprecedented and commendable move that should be emulated by other politicians, adding that the issues of widespread poverty would be curbed if political office holders remembered their people in this manner.

She assured that the money would be injected to boost their businesses, thanking the governor for identifying and appointing a kind-hearted and visionary leader like Dr. Obed-Whyte, who has his people at heart.

All other stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Action Peoples Party (APP) in DELGA, Chief Johnny Collins Braide, commended the Commissioner’s compassionate initiative, calling on other politicians in the LGA to emulate him.

He noted that although the Commissioner was not a member of his party (APP), he was however moved to grace the occasion due to its people-oriented nature, urging its sustainability for social transformation.

Daerefaa Clifford Braide
Coordinator, Ward 4