MY First-Time Visit to Bayelsa State

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What would a perfect unwinding session be like for you? Well, for me, it's leaving my home, visiting a new place, and having fun. When last were you in a state or country for the first time? The last time I visited a new state was in 2018, and it was Abuja, and then Kano. Since then, it's been Porakot Porakot all the way. Heck! Very boring something. I made a video some days ago saying I was in Dubai. Oya relax, na lie. Dubai isn't the first country I'll visit when I blow. Stay locked till then. 😁😁😁 

Holla. Meet Confidence, my tour guide

 

Story story?

Last weekend, I made a trip to Bayelsa state, reputably known as the glory of all lands. It is the least populous state in Nigeria, with only a little above two million people. The Federal capital territory should have been the smallest, but sadly, it is not a state. Bayelsa state is located in the oil-rich Niger Delta, and it is one of the largest producers of oil in the country. History tells us that oil was first discovered in Nigeria in Oloibiri in 1959, which is in present-day Bayelsa. The popular language spoken in this small state is Ijaw.

Enough of the rhetoric, we move to why I went there and my experience there. As I said, I was bored, and my tour partner (Confidence) was bored too. We needed to cool off, and yea, we came, saw, and went back to our homes. Yenegoa was the first stop. Like every capital city, development is centered around this small city. Government agencies, fun centers, eateries, and all the orishirishi are a stone throw away from each other. Yenegoa is calm, and the means of transportation within the town is Keke napep. The transport fare is relatively cheap, and the roads are free as air. Port Harcourt is livelier, but if you love a quiet city, the serenity shouldn't bother you. 

ox-bow lake, Yenegoa

 

Our next stop was at Biseni, still in Yenegoa local government area. How this village fell under Bayelsa state remains a mystery, but what has happened has happened. The town shares a boundary with Ahoada West, and ordinarily, it should have been a Rivers state territory. When it comes to boundary delineation, it's not about the people or what is ideal; it's about politicians and what they stand to gain. This small village has an oil well that generates millions of dollars for the oil companies, and so, it's a juicy spot. The soku oil well ownership remains a debate today, with both states (Rivers and Bayelsa) laying claims to the money bag. Every state governor loves the sound and sight of money.

Back to Biseni. It's a small village comprising four communities. They are not connected to PHED (Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company), but every community has a lister that runs from 7 pm till midnight. Their roads are tarred, but the schools aren't befitting of their oil well status. There is clean and portable water meaning that indigenes are relatively comfortable in their small village.  

Taylor Creek, Biseni.
 

It's October, and if you've ever been to a typical riverine community, you'd know it's the flood season. The orashi river isn't smiling as this is the time it rises the most. Parts of Ahoada West is already submerged, and it is the same story in Biseni. More than 50% of the community has been submerged, and I heard it would be worse this week. The river would rise to the point where everyone would live in a temporary shelter until December. They suffer this fate virtually every year, and it's almost like a regular thing.

They make the temporary shelters themselves as no government agencies come to their rescue. As I walked past the streets, people have already constructed makeshift homes using wood and trampoline. It's the cold season, and you can't imagine how terrible it is for them. Then again, these hardworking people don't have a choice.

These people are hospitable like OMG!!! Did I mention that I entered a canoe for the first time? Yup! I just did that. Confi's pastor talked to a 'Mama' who took us around the sea. I was scared sha o, but what can a local tourist do?

One of the things that stood out for me the most was that everyone was busy with their cassava. They were out in their canoes, harvesting all the cassava before the water gets to the peak. They'll process and preserve the garri to eat it until next season. They are subsistent farmers and rarely sell their farm's proceeds because na person wey chop belle full go get strength for business.

It was a long weekend, and I enjoyed my stay. Confidence, my tour guide made the journey more fun, and I'm glad I went on this journey. Up next…Switzerland!!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Udo diri gi.

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