Osinbajo inaugurates projects in Bayelsa despite early doubt over Anigiama-Oporoma bridge

Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President, on Monday, inaugurated two projects in Bayelsa State, recalling his doubts when he performed the ground-breaking of the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge.

Osinbajo who was in Bayelsa State to inaugurate the Ox Bow Lake/Agbura Road and a referral hospital at Oporoma, Headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

He commended Governor Douye Diri for embarking on life transforming projects, saying the Ox Bow Lake/Agbura road connected with several government facilities, including the Nigerian Towers, Federal Secretariat Complex, and the Yenagoa office of Central Bank of Nigeria.

Osinbajo stated, “Just as His Excellency has said, I was here about four years ago, to do the groundbreaking for the Angiama/Oporoma Bridge.

“We traveled through the forest, and when he said that there was going to be a bridge here, I seriously had my doubts, because it was just all forests that we saw that day.

“And we were driving and driving and driving, what seemed to be an endless road.

“But, we thank God that not only has he proved to be a man of his word, that bridge stands there today, and just as has been said, I will have the pleasure of confirming that the bridge is there.

“This particular enterprise that we are now about to commission is very special in many ways. And as we’ve heard, not only does it open up the Agbura, Swali, and other communities in the Yenagoa Local Government Area, it is also one that opens up the Ogbia axis, where, of course, as you know, you have the Federal University in Otuoke and also you have the Oloibiri, which, as you know, is the place where oil was discovered.

“So, it has very important historic connotations as well. But in addition to that, it connects with several government facilities, including the NCDMB Towers, the Federal Secretariat, and the CBN headquarters here in Bayelsa State.

“So it’s a very, very important road indeed. And I’m happy and very honoured to be the one who will commission this special road.

“And I want to thank His Excellency the Governor for the honor, but also to commend him for doing what is right to do, namely to provide facilities that make the lives of people easier. This is the whole point, as he himself has said, of politics.

“The whole point of politics is not just to serve and have a title. It is to make life easier for the people. And this road certainly will make life easier for the people.

“So, it is my very special pleasure to be here today to officially commission this road. And I pray for you, Your Excellency the Governor, and the government and people of Bayelsa State that the progress that we’re seeing today is only the beginning of what we will see over the next few months and years.

“And that the Almighty God will give you speed, the Almighty God will give you strength and long life, and the Almighty God will enable you to see all of the progress and all of the growth that you have led in this Prosperity Administration, and that truly this state will prosper.”

Earlier, Governor Douye Diri, said in 2022, despite the terrain, he invited Osinbajo, to flag-off the 630-metre Angiama/Oporoma Bridge.

Governor Diri said the construction process provided jobs to hundreds of young people from the neighbouring communities while engineering work lasted.

“A new economic opportunity has opened with ease of transportation and access to more riverine communities along the Yenagoa/Oporoma-/Ukubie road.

“When recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, made that historic visit to Bayelsa State to inaugurate the bridge, Prof. Osinbajo, wanted to be part of the trip, but he was said to be out of the country.

“today, the man who flagged off the project, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is here to witness the transformation and the reality that Angiama/Oporoma Bridge is now standing after his last visit four years ago”, the governor said.