The ancient island Community of Bakana was literally filled to the brim, as scores of women, numbering over two thousand, Saturday, staged a solidarity walk to endorse the Rivers State Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara, ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial elections.
The endorsement walk tagged: Women Unite For Sim, led by the Executive Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Michael John Williams, which started at 7am, had women from the six political Wards of Bakana, who came out in their numbers to show love and support for their candidate.
After going round the community in a show of political dominance, the Council Chairman used the occasion to handover the upgraded Chief Tom Fouchee Iboroma Memorial Hall, at Iboroma’s Compound, Bakana.
Receiving the upgraded Memorial Hall from the Council Chairman, Chief Hon. Bob John Iboroma, expressed gratitude to the Council Boss for giving a facelift to the facility, adding that the Iboroma people appreciate his benevolence towards them.
Thereafter, the event shifted venue to Iyalla’s Compound for the Commissioning Ceremony of the reconstructed Chief India John Yellowe (Opuda Iyalla) Memorial Hall, executed by the administration of Hon. Williams.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Chief Mpaka Gogo-Abite, thanked the Council Boss for reconstructing the memorial hall to a befitting cynosure, adding that the Chairman had proven to be a worthy son of Opuda Iyalla.
In his speech, the Council Chairman boasted that the PDP is the only party that can bring development to the people at the grassroots, without making excuses.
He disclosed that the women of Bakana embarked on the Walk to show the acceptability and popularity of the PDP Candidate in Bakana, declaring that Sim is the incoming governor of Rivers State and the people of Bakana will be part of making that history.
The DELGA Sheriff, who commended the people of Bakana for their love and steadfastness with the PDP over the years, assured them that under the Sir Sim Fubara administration, the much-desired Bakana–Port Harcourt phase of the Trans-Kalabari Road would be actualized, having already been started by the Governor Nyesom Wike administration.
“I am putting my name and integrity on the line to assure you that the much-desired phase of the Trans-Kalabari Road, linking Bakana to Port Harcourt, that you are yearning for will be actualized under the Sim Fubara administration, when it comes on board.
“And when that road comes, it will bring rapid development to our dear community, giving its nearness to Port Harcourt, the State capital,” Hon. Williams assured.
Speaking on the reconstructed memorial hall, the Council Chairman stated that the edifice would stand the test of time, because it was done inline with the Governor Wike’s standard of delivering quality projects to the people.
On the electricity supply to the community, the Council Chairman disclosed that the rerouting effort had reached over 70 percent, as the pylons have all been mounted and work is seriously ongoing at the site.
The three-in-one events featured fitness exercise, Iria dance and masquerade display.
The historic event was attended by leaders of the PDP in the LGA, including the Executive Chairman of DELGA, Hon. Michael John Williams, his Vice; Hon. Mrs Maureen Obuba Harry, Leader of the Degema Legislative Assembly, Hon. Alapuye Duke and his colleagues, as well as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Roland Obed-Whyte.
Others include, Chairman of the PDP in DELGA, Chief Hon. Taribo Benson, former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Degema LGA, Hon. Mrs. Okorite Adiele, Director-General of the 2021 DELGA Chairmanship Campaign Council, Hon. Michael Ekineh, former Chairmanship aspirant and Publisher of Africa Update Newspaper, Hon. Gloria Boma Harry, Wari-Alabo Austin Beriye Miller and Hon. Alamese Martyns-Yellowe.
Others were; members of the Iyalla Council of Chiefs, top functionaries and appointees of the Council, amongst others.
