Inaugural Speech by Mr Barisuka Prince Beteh, President General Rivers Community in Bayelsa State
INAUGURAL SPEECH BY MR. BARISUKA PRINCE BETEH, 8TH PRESIDENT OF RIVERS COMMUNITY, BAYELSA STATE DURING HIS INAUGURATION CEREMONY HELD ON TUESDAY, 22ND OCTOBER, 2024.
I am immensely grateful to God who has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph and a new beginning for Rivers indigenes in Bayelsa state. As people of different ethnic background, our journey has not been without hitches but thanks to the determination of our founding fathers and members for bringing us together under this umbrella body “the Federated union of Rivers indigenes in Bayelsa state”.
I want to also thank His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri the miracle governor of Bayelsa state and the good people of the state for given us an enabling environment to carry out our legitimate activities without any form of intimidation and attack on our members over the years. Also, I would like to appreciate His Excellency Hon. Dr. Madapuye Dokubo Felix the governor of Rivers state in Bayelsa and members of the 7th executive council for their display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be recognized by the government of Bayelsa state.
With his leadership style and the support, the transition process, beginning with the setting up of ELECO to the election day, has shown others in the state that despite the differences in our ethnicity, we can be united and do what is right for our people at all time.
Together, we cooperated to surprise those who came and expect the worst from us as seen in some community that continue to enmeshed in violent and legal battle during and after their election. I hope this act of maturity exhibited by Rivers community will become the new standard of electioneering process in the other communities in south-south and Bayelsa state in general.
I would like to thank all my supporters who believed in my capacity to lead Rivers state indigenes resident in Bayelsa state. I salute the ethnic chairmen and those who tirelessly went around with me during the campaign and also those who used the media space to campaign for me.
I want to assure all Rivers indigenes in Bayelsa state of my readiness to cooperate and lead them with the fear of God and in accordance with our constitution in particular and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My leadership will spread across all the communities, towns and local government areas in Bayelsa state. We are not going to sit back in Yenagoa and forget our brothers and sisters in the hinterland.
I am not oblivion of the challenges faced by our people as a result of the current economic situation which has led to increasing poverty in our dear country. As a team, we shall partner with reputable organizations to empower our people, especially, our women, youths with basic skills and soft loan to support their small and medium enterprises in the state.
Furthermore, we as Rivers indigenes, the mother of Bayelsa state and other ethnic group domiciled in Bayelsa state, we must remind ourselves always that we are to contribute to the development of state and not to constitute nuisance in the state. We are to support the government to foster peace, unity and progress in the state.
Daunting as the tasks may be, it is by no means insurmountable. There is now a serious task to bring all Rivers indigenes, by marriage, working and doing business in Bayelsa state together as one. To achieve our objectives as a team we need the cooperation of every one of you. Through your attendance at the general congress and support to the leadership at our various ethnic community. Our membership should not only reflect in our contribution to issues on WhatsApp and other social media platforms but also our physical presence during our activities.
The executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties of any ethnic chairmen or leaders. It is on that note that I am directing any member of my executive holding any position at the ethnic community level to relinquish their position with immediate effect and focus on the tasks ahead.
Your Excellencies, founding fathers, brothers and sisters lets shun all forms of sentiment, hatred and come together as one indivisible family. Everyone of you will have an opportunity in my administration.
God bless Federated Union of Rivers Indigenes in Bayelsa state
God bless Rivers state
God bless Bayelsa state
God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Riversssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
