Bayelsa State Government says it will soon award a contract for the construction of the second phase of the East/West-Sampou-Odoni-Osekwenike-Elemebiri Road project to further open up the state for investment and other socioeconomic activities.

The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this while granting audience to the Paramount Ruler of Okugbe-Isoko Clan, His Royal Highness, Capt Frank Okurakpo (JP) and his council of chiefs in the government house, Yenagoa.

Describing the road as strategic, he said when completed it would link the state to the south eastern part of the country, and thereby boost the state economy through enhanced transportation, social activities trade and investments.

On the issue of upgrading the Okugbe-Isoko chieftaincy stool to a first-class status, the deputy governor urged all affected deserving clans to remain patient, adding that the government would soon carry out a comprehensive statewide stool reclassification exercise.

Earlier in his remarks, the paramount ruler of the Okugbe-Isoko clan, his royal highness capt. Frank Okurakpo (Rtd), acknowledged the significant development strides made by the governor Douye Diri-led administration, especially in terms of road infrastructure, security health, agriculture, housing and human capital development.

The monarch, who spoke through the Ewoma of Okugbe-Isoko, Chief Prosper Nwaguzo, passionately appealed to the state government to upgrade the clan’s stool from second class to first class, and construct the second phase of the East-West-Sampou-Odoni-Agbere- Osekwenike-Elemebiri Road project, among other requests.

He said,our appeal since then has been and still remains that, as a kingdom, our clan head should be granted the 1st class recognition as all other clan heads, It is our clan head alone that is so marginalized.

“The efforts of the state government in setting in motion the process of new local government creation and submitting a proposal of 33 new LGAs is commendable.

“We would, however, point out that two of our communities in Okugbe-Isoko kingdom, namely Igule-Ogbokiri and Kenan are not listed in the list of communities in the new LGAs in Sagbama; these omissions should be noted for correction as when appropriate.”

In a related development, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo at the weekend also performed the formal commissioning of the palace annexe of the Okugbe-Isoko kingdom in Bayelsa, situated at the Bayelsa palm state in the Yenagoa metropolis.

While congratulating King Okurakpo for putting up the magnificent edifice, the deputy governor said the facility would stand as a symbol of unity for the Okugbe-Isoko people.

Presenting a welcome address on behalf of the revered traditional ruler, chiefs and people of Okugbe-Isoko clan, chief Bernard Ikpekri, thanked the Deputy governor for honouring the invitation, noting that the palace annex was built within the state capital to make for easy liaison and other diaspora engagements of the clan head.

Top government functionaries that accompanied the deputy governor for the palace inauguration were commissioners, including the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, chief Thompson Amule, his mineral resources counterpart, Mr Peter Afagha, and the technical adviser to the governor on chieftaincy matters, Chief Perekeme Bertola.