Bayelsa community Die-Ama laments impact of Nembe-Brass Rd, seeks inclusion in MoU

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The people of Die-Ama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have given a one-month ultimatum to the Federal and Bayelsa State governments to include them in the Memorandum of Understanding in executing the ongoing Nembe/Brass Road.

According to the community, they are the most impacted among other communities in the area since the project started.

Speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, His Royal Highness Baratuaipre Eketei Amaene Ikaba XI, the Amanayanabo of Die-Ama Community, said, From the Western side of Saint Nicholas Rivers to the other side of the bush, “We are the most impacted, the whole mangrove area falls within our side.

“Now, a road construction is being undertaken by the state and federal governments; the road from Nembe to Brass is being constructed. We are not consulted, and dredging is going on in our creeks and rivers. We are now appealing to the federal and state governments to tell the construction company to take us along so that we can also enjoy the privileges other communities are enjoying.

“Since we are the most impacted community, if federal and state governments fail to address our issues, we will stop the work after this one month’s notice. We are also writing to the state House of Assembly to intervene in the matter, and we are going to copy the office of the Deputy Governor for them to be aware of our plights.”

HRH Baratuaipre Eketei Amaene alleged that the Okpoama community is using one Mr Ungo Timipre, Surveyor Ekele, supported by Chief Timipre Sylva and the resigned Okpoama king Ebitimi Banigo, “using him to terrorise us every day and night using his cult boys to invade us, even now they are still using those boys to terrorise our community, not wanting us to come near the construction site of the company working on the Nembe/Brass road.

“So, we are in fear, that is why we are calling on the state and federal governments to come to our rescue by telling the company to recognise us as the most impacted community in the Nembe/Brass road project.”

Speaking further, the monarch said that the problems of the community are too many to enumerate, saying most especially the false claims of “our neighbour Okpoama community by laying false claims on Die-Ama Community and its territory, which has taken much litigation starting from 1948 to 1986, where we got a judgment at the court of Appeal Enugu.

“Despite the judgment, they are still forcing themselves on us by laying false claims and invading us at will. Die-Ama Community has been a long-established community, but today it is like a fishing port. Up till now, they have still been invading us. We have reported the matter to the Deputy Governor, and up till now, nothing has been done.

“Okpoama community is always invading Die-Ama Community at will. In 1947, they burnt down the community; to date, they are still doing it despite the judgment of the Appeal Court.

“The initial report was sent to the office of the Deputy Governor; no impact has been felt. It was on the 26th of September when they held a meeting with community delegations, and that day was another day of the invasion. The Deputy Governor heard about it and ordered the commissioner of police to take action, but up till now, no action has been taken

“We want the federal and state governments to give us peace; we want peace. The plan drawn between Die-Ama and Okpoama on one side and Die-Ama and Odioma in 1921 should be maintained because the plan is still in existence. I have it in my hand, they have their portion, we have our own portion since 1921.

“We are making this known to the general public and the world in general that Die-Ama Community is an autonomous community under the Nembe kingdom under the Mingi of Nembe. We are not under Okpoama, and we have a recognised king in the person of HRH. Baratuaipre Eketei Amaene Ikaba XI Amanayanabo of Die-Ama Community.”