Our New Yam Festival Has Gone International: Dakolo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King  Bubaraye Dakolo ( Agada iv) the Ibenanawei  of Ekpetiama Kingdom, Bayelsa State  has  disclosed that the age long Okolede New Yam Festival   being celebrated yearly  has started getting international recognition as he reveled  some foreigners were  at the Kingdom to witness the  festival.

 

 

Speaking at the weekend at Bumoundigbene Community in Ekpetiama Kingdom of Yenagoa Local Area during the grand finale of OKolede New Yam Festival (Aya Buru Fi Uge), the King called for more international recognition of the festival adding water yam which is being celebrated is very medicinal.

 

King Dakolo however added that the Kingdom has natural environment conducive for tourism like the venue of the new yam festival disclosing that before you use places like that in places  like America or Europe,  you must pay billions of Dollars.

 

 The King said “No too long ago, I said that very soon you will be seeing people from outside of this country coming to partake in this event and Bumoundigbene got the first shot. 

 

“We have people from Europe that came in few days ago. Some are here while some have gone. But this is clear, they are not from Ekpetiam Kingdom, they are not from Bayelsa state or from Nigeria. That show that Okolede has gone international.

 

”You can see that this event is taking place by the river side. If it were to be held in Europe or America, you will pay billions of Dollars for it because it is difficult to find nature at its best there but it here before you.

 

 Okolede he said is a cultural event and culture which he said is every about you one adding that Okolede festival was meant to bring people together.

 

He thanked all that contributed to the success of this event and to see to the progress of Ekpetiama Kingdom.

 

“If you are part of this event, your life definitely has been prolonged and so you are going to add at least ten years.  For those that supposed to join their ancestors this year, you won’t joining them at all. You will be doing that ten years from now. And if you keep attending Okolede, I tell you, you will be immortal.  He teased.

 

 

Speaking earlier, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of states for Petroleum (Oil) represented by Orubebe Ogeinbiri maintained that the most important attachment to the festival was the fact that it was bringing unity to the Kingdom.

 

 He said that it is only way to bring people together and appreciate God Almighty for the blessings in the land “and I believe that with his Royal Majesty that oversees the affairs of this kingdom, this festival will go international.

 

He assured that with Lokpobiri being a son of the Niger Delta, everything that should get to the Kingdom from the federal government and form the oil companies will get to them.

 

 He advised the youths to shun violence adding that agitations have gone mental and no more   through protests and violence.

 

He said “Your Majesty, the minister said I should  tell you that one of your trusted chiefs is with him, Chief Barkson Osom.  That anything you feel that he can do for this kingdom through Blarkson Osom, he will be obliged to that.

 

“People coming together, they are for unity.  Heineken is for the peace of the Niger Delta. The era of protests and violence is no more so people should come together to articulate their points so that from time to time, what is due your community from government and oil companies will get to your  community.

 

 

“The kingdom is lucky to have a majesty like Dakolo, a highly respected and trusted traditional ruler in the federation.

 

 “The king is a fighter of injustice. This time we are not protesting in violence, we are protesting in intellectual.  And your majesty is one of those that are fighting injustice intellectually.

 

 Also Mayor of Yenagoa Local Government Area Bayesa State, Bulodisiya Ndiwari said  “I want to say that I appreciate what is happening which is the unity of Ekpetiama Kingdom which is an old celebration and want to commend you for the unity. This unity should continue. I encourage other clans to take a clue from what is happening here. We should always come together and celebrate things that bond us together, the youths should learn from this.