By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri and the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chairman Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, has urged the people of Ekpetiama Clan to embrace peace and unity as a panacea for peaceful coexistence.

The duo gave the admonition at the grand finale of the 2026 Ekpetiama Okolode Yam Festival and 10th Anniversary of coronation of King Dakolo as monarch of Ekpetiama Kingdom, held at the Gbarantoru Community Town Hall, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state over the weekend.

Governor Diri represented by the Deputy Governor, Pastor Peter Akpe,expressed concern over the fast declining Ijaw language and traditional farming, which forms an integral part of the Izon cultural heritage due to preference for foreign ways of life

He commended the Ekpetiama people for sustaining the age-long yam festival,and urged them to promote farming, and other agricultural activities in order to contribute meaningfully to the realization of his administration’s policy objective of ensuring food security in the state.

The governor further appealed to communities contending with chieftaincy crisis, particularly Agudama-Ekpetiama, Tombia and Akaibiri to embrace peace and unity for the common good of the people.

His words: “Our people are unique and wonderful. Our culture is also unique. Even our dance and several aspects of our lives are unique. But unfortunately, many aspects of our culture are going extinct.

“On behalf of the Governor, I want to appreciate the King and people of Ekpetiama for sustaining this Okolede Festival over the years, which is celebration of farming and harvest.

“I want to also use this opportunity to encourage you to remain united and live as brothers and sisters. Let all the communities in this kingdom where we have chieftaincy crisis like Agudama, Tombia and Akaibiri sink their difference for the sake of peace and progress.”

In his remarks, the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chairman Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, stressed that the festival provides a platform for his people to collectively appreciate God for blessing them with bountiful harvest every year.

King Dakolo used the occasion to thank Governor Diri for the construction of infrastructural projects, appointment of Ekpetiama sons and daughters to position of trust in his administration, saying that the measures taken were impacting positively on the lives of the people and appealed for the construction of a befitting auditorium for the Gbarantoru Community.

“The unity of purpose is the main reason why we are gathered here today as we thank God for a bountiful harvest..And if there were no unity perhaps this occasion would not hold. So we need unity, forgive one another and live in peace. and that way next year will definitely be better,” King Dakolo said.

He described the specie of water yam cultivated in the Ekpetiama communities as.exceptionally medicinal as it is low in sugar compared to other yam species, stressing that in spite of the highly oil polluted environment occasion, nature has a way of sustaining the ecosystem for agriculture to thrive.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly and Chairman of the Occasion,RT. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, described the Okolede Festival as a celebration of identity and encouraged the Ekpetiama people to sustain their cultural heritage to ensure stability and sustainable development.

In their separate goodwill messages, the member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency, Hon. Oforji Abonzibe Oboku and the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Shadrach Erebulu, extolled the leadership and people of Ekpetiama for maintaining Okolede as a unifying factor.

On his part, the Amananaowei of Gbarantoru, His Royal Highness, Chief Igonia Dakolo, expressed joy over the impressive attendance and thanked everyone for finding time to grace the festival.

A highlight of the event was the breaking and eating of new yam by the Ekpetiama Monarch King Dakolo shortly after its presentation by women of the Kingdom led by his wife, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Timinipre Dakolo.