Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on communities in the state to embrace peace and unity as essential ingredients for sustainable development during the 2026 Okolode New Yam Festival in Ekpetiama Kingdom.
Speaking through his representative at the grand finale of the festival held at Gbarantoru Hall, Governor Diri emphasized that festivals like Okolode serve as unifying forces that bring people together across different backgrounds. He said the event is an avenue to unite the people and pass on the oral tradition of the age-long ceremony to younger generations.
“The Okolode new yam festival serves as a unifying force that brings people together from various strata and ethnicities. Through this festival, we are reminded that despite our diverse backgrounds, we have a lot in common. Our traditions, values and beliefs bring us together and it is important we uphold and preserve them for the future generations,” the governor’s representative stated.
Governor Diri stressed that peace is the foundation for growth and warned that meaningful development cannot happen in an atmosphere of conflict. “There is gain in love and peace and that where there is peace, there is development. The people of Bayelsa State have decided to love themselves and to live together as a community,” he said.
The governor also commended the peaceful disposition of Ekpetiama people and thanked traditional rulers for working to maintain harmony in their domains. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting cultural festivals that promote unity and heritage across Bayelsa.
“Beyond the carnivals and fanfare of festivals, there is real opportunity to make culture a money spinner within the scheme of our economic activities. It is thus the determination of this administration to continue to support traditional authorities to harness and develop these potentials,” Diri added.
The Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, who is also Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, echoed the governor’s message. He told guests that unity of purpose made the celebration possible. “The unity of purpose is the main reason why we are here today. If there were no unity, perhaps this occasion would not have held. We need unity, and people should forgive one another,” King Dakolo said.
He further thanked Governor Diri for developmental projects in the kingdom, particularly the airport and road infrastructure, noting that the prevailing peace in Ekpetiama has made the area attractive to visitors. “All who made it here will attest that if there was kidnapping, hostility, war or anything wrong here, they would not have come. I thank the governor and his administration for their efforts in ensuring the peace we enjoy today. The governor is known as a man of peace,” the monarch added.
The Okolode festival, deeply rooted in Ekpetiama traditions, featured traditional dances, music, and the ceremonial sharing of the new yam harvest, drawing natives and visitors from near and far.
