Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has urged corporate organisations operating in the state to promote and preserve the people’s cultural heritage by sponsoring festivals as part of their corporate social responsibility.
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Governor Diri made the call on Monday at the opening of the 69th edition of the Odi Ogori Ba Uge International Festival in Odi community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
The governor said festivals such as the Odi Ogori Ba Uge Festival are deeply rooted in the history and economic survival of the people and therefore deserve corporate support to ensure their sustainability.
He explained that the festival symbolises unity, resilience and the people’s liberation from a mysterious buffalo that prevented them from carrying out their socio-economic activities many years ago.
He commended the community for preserving and immortalising this important aspect of its history through the annual festival.
He said:
“I am happy with what you are doing, but it is not yet enough. I want to see the private sector become part of the sponsorship of festivals like this in our state. I want to see banks operating in Bayelsa sponsoring activities like this.
“Celebrations like this across the world do not depend solely on government because they are mostly sponsored by the private sector. But in our situation, organisers often depend on government.
“Let me also admonish us that it is not enough to come here just to celebrate. We should also try to understand why we are celebrating because many of us do not know the history behind the celebration.
“I know the story behind this festival—that hunters, through their bravery and skills, brought down a buffalo that prevented members of the community from going to their farms. I believe God used the hunters and the people to free themselves from the buffalo.
“This celebration represents freedom for the people, who were held captive by a buffalo. In unity, they fought back and regained their freedom because they stood together.”
In his welcome address, Chairman of the 2026 Odi Ogori Ba Uge International Festival Planning Committee, Prof. Ebikisei Udisi, said the festival was more than an annual celebration, describing it as a living history that reminds the people of Odi of their origins.
Prof. Udisi said the festival commemorates the historic victory of the Odi people over a wild, ferocious and mysterious buffalo that terrorised the community for years.
According to him, for about five years, the dreaded Ogori (buffalo) held the community hostage, severely disrupting its traditional, social and economic activities and plunging the people into hunger, hardship and uncertainty.
He said:
“Today, 69 years after the historic killing of the Ogori, we gather for the 69th edition of this great festival. This is therefore not just another festival. It is a celebration of the survival of a people, the power of unity, and the ability to transform painful historical experiences into a source of identity, pride, culture and hope.
“As we celebrate, we must never forget the sacrifices of our ancestors and the founding fathers of Odi, Imgbela and Amasain. We shall continue to remember King Akabagu Ofurugbo, under whose reign the years of Ogori terror occurred. We especially remember Akara Edike, whose gunshot killed the Ogori.
“The story of Odi teaches us that adversity can be transformed into strength and that history must not merely be remembered; it must be preserved and passed on to future generations. The Odi Ogori Ba Uge Festival is therefore a bridge between the past and the future.”
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