Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday night paid tribute to former Nigerian Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha, expressing gratitude on behalf of the Ijaw nation for the creation of Bayelsa on October 1, 1996.
Governor Diri said Gen. Abacha deserved continuous commendation for the gesture as he freed the Ijaw people from oppression and injustice.
The Bayelsa governor spoke at the Dinner and Awards Night of the Bayelsa at 30 anniversary celebrations tagged “Celebrating Legacies” at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
The well-attended grand finale of the four-day celebrations attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, Abacha’s family, including Alhaji Abba Abacha and Hajia Fatima Gumsu Abacha, National Assembly members, the diplomatic community, business moguls, top government officials among others.
At the event, state honours were presented to 63 recipients.
Top on the list were the late Abacha, Jonathan, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, former military administrators of the state, including the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni (rtd), Police Commissioner Habu Daura (rtd) and Col. Edor Obi (rtd) as well as the immediate past governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Governor Diri emphasised that mentioning Abacha’s name in all his remarks was significant, explaining that the late Head of State might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he was the one who freed them by creating a homogeneous Ijaw state.
His words: “If at every point in my remarks I keep calling him, it is because of what God used him to do for the Ijaw ethnic nationality. As I said yesterday, General Abacha might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he is the one who freed us from oppression.
“He freed us from injustice and gave a homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states, and making us minority in some.
“Today is also the 66th independence anniversary of our country. So, we are celebrating the national independence and at the same time celebrating our own state at 30 years. We cannot acknowledge and thank General Abacha enough, ably represented here by his own son, Abba Abacha, and his sister. Please take our appreciation and gratitude back home to your mother.”
Justifying the celebration, Diri said the journey from total absence of infrastructure to a state with legacy projects, road networks and hope for the future was a testament to the vision of its founding fathers and the grace of God.
Giving a sectoral breakdown, he said at creation, Bayelsa had zero tertiary institution, but today boasts over five, including universities, polytechnics and college of education, and still counting.
He also contended that at inception, the state had just a single-lane Mbiama-Yenagoa road, but today it had a network of roads, dualised highways and the three senatorial roads opening the state from all angles.
“Do we talk about the healthcare transformation? So much has been done, and we can rightly say that Bayelsa had moved forward and no longer where it used to be,” Diri stated.
He congratulated the awardees, describing them as part of the Bayelsa legacy.
Responding on behalf of the honourees, Dr. Jonathan dedicated his award to his late boss and political mentor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who brought him into politics as a deputy governor.
Jonathan further stated that despite the cynicism of many young people, who ask what Bayelsa had to celebrate at 30, the state had made significant progress.
He said: “Although we have not reached where we are supposed to be, I am happy where we are. I am happy that Bayelsa State was created, and we have gained tremendously. Most people might not know, we have gained tremendously following the creation of the state.
“Bayelsans will always remain grateful to late Gen. Sani Abacha who made it possible for Bayelsa to be among the last six states he created.”
He equally commended Governor Diri for organising the anniversary and honouring those who laboured for the creation and development of the state.
Among other recipients were all who facilitated the creation of the state (Contribution to sustenance of ljaw Existence category), late British-born linguist, Prof. Kay Williamson (Promotion of Ijaw Language category), and Olympians Daniel Igali and Blessing Oborududu and former Super Eagles players and coaches, Samson Siasia and Finidi George (Sports).
Other illustrious Ijaw sons and daughters honoured were former Ijaw National Congress president, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, musicians – late King Robert Ebizimor, Inetimi Odon (Timaya), and Timi Dakolo, as well as the immediate past Head of Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack (Public Service).
In the Education category were Prof. Ayebaemi Spiff, late Prof. Lawrence Ekpebu, Prof. Ebiegberi Alagoa, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and Prof. Youpele Beredugo.
The recognition also covered Bayelsa-born businessmen – Chief Dan Etete, Engr. Gesi Asamaowei, Engr. Preye Berezi, Chief Ken Etete, King Ebitimi Banigo, Dr. Ephraim Faloughi, Dr. Daru Owei and Chief Robert Enogha.
The multiple-award winning Bayelsa State Cultural Troupe was equally honoured as well as the late former National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi (Military), Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, who was one-time Speaker of the House of Assembly (Legislature), foremost nationalist and pioneer editor of Daily Times Newspaper, Ernest Ikoli, teenage chess sensation, Deborah Quickpen and a host of others.
Dignitaries present at the event included the wives of the governor, Dr. Gloria Diri and Justice Patience Ama-Diri, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe, Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, represented by the Deputy Speaker, as well as members of the House of Assembly and the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei.
Others were Lokpobiri, Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Ebitimi Amgbare, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service Dr Bashir Adwale Adeniyi, Col. Edor Obi (rtd), chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, and other traditional rulers.
In attendance were the Ambassadors of Germany, Portugal, Italy, Vietnam, Angola, Czech Republic and São Tomé and Principe.