The origin of the people of Ovom and Onopa in the Atissa kingdom of Bayelsa State in Nigeria is not very definite. The Atissa clan is from Onopa to Agbura, namely, Onopa, Ovom, Yenagoa, Bebelebiri, Yenaka, Ikolo, Famgbe, Obogoro, Akaba, Ogu, Swali, Agbura.
The largest public local market situated at Swali in the Atissa clan, has been very resourceful to the people of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Historically Ovom ran from Aguobiri to her present settlement before the arrival of Onopa.
Activities done in ovom include; Wrestling championships, divination of Ovom community, shrines, Christian activities, incest and adultery, carnival celebration. They are known as farmers and fishermen.
The area of Ovom is host to numerous government offices such as the ministry of information, education, labour and transport. It also hosts courts and a hospital with security offices like the police headquarters, FRSC, immigration, all too numerous to mention.
Since most buildings in the area are government owned, it can be said to be a civil servants hub as almost all government offices can be found here. The sad thing is, it doesn’t give off that vibe . With its rundown buildings and the youth spats in Obele street, an area known for this. It doesn’t give the vibe it should give.
Moreover as government offices are here, it has more reasons to stand out from the rest of the city. Government can rehabilitate the area by ensuring power supplying the area across all offices. Ensuring that the youths are taken care of when they want to seem troublesome in the area.
Ovom should be different if not for anything, for reputation. Once you enter Ovom it should feel different from other areas of the state. All areas should be welcoming and you shouldn’t be scared to go to anywhere.
The European Union is collaborating with Ovom to put away the use of illicit drug use in the community. Everybody has the right to grow up in a drug-free environment. The community prohibits the production/trafficking/sale and possession for personal use of these substances. Embedded in the child protection provision.
As it stands, people of Ovom are not benefitting anything substantial from the government despite being surrounded by government offices. No light in the area and for the past three months not even a blink of it in the area. No water running in the area, you still see water vendors, “merua” as they are called pushing water wagons to supply people and sometimes the jerrycan holding the water does not give hope of it even being clean.
Furthermore , it is worthy to note that it was a host formerly to the water board in the state even before the creation of the state, but it is now in Okaka but still not performing its functions. The people don’t have water and don’t have light and this area has a hospital in its environs how can a hospital function without constant water and light supply? It is not even private owned it is a federal hospital. The Ovom people would frequent this hospital as it is closer to them but there is no promise of light and water in said hospital that is to service them.
For Ovom to get pride of place, government should tackle the water situation and ensure clean water is supplied all around the area. They should also ensure a constant supply of light . God forbid the light the hospital is managing fails during a critical operation. What then? The area has schools as well . The children need water and light in their schools to aid their learning. The security of the place is also in question as youths have major spats in Ovom. The government should step up their game. They shouldn’t only remember these people when they need them but also when the people need them and cry out to them.
In essence, let Ovom change from the place that would strike terror into the hearts of people due to its reputation of being unsafe and instead let it encourage peace and development. Ovom should stand out in Yenagoa as it hosts multiple government offices. That should merit for something if not anything and it can help Yenagoa stand out as a state capital that it is in Bayelsa state.
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