Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has paid tributes to its founding fathers, stating that the homogenous Ijaw state created by the former Head of State, late Gen. Sani Abacha, on October 1, 1996, has recorded significant progress in 30 years.
Governor Diri, however, said that much remains to be done to fully realise the aspirations of the founding fathers.
Diri stated this in a live broadcast to mark the 30th anniversary of the state and Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary on Thursday.
He said the twin anniversary provided an opportunity to honour those who laid the foundations of the state and reflect on what the present generation would leave behind.
According to him, Bayelsa’s creation was the product of years of advocacy, petitions, protests, prayers and sacrifices by generations of Ijaw people seeking justice, recognition and a greater voice within the Nigerian federation.
Diri recalled that the creation of the old Rivers State from the former Eastern Region in 1967 was an important milestone in that struggle spearheaded largely by the Ijaws and which also eventually culminated in the creation of Bayelsa twenty-nine years later.
The Bayelsa helmsman recalled the roles played by some of the state’s heroes, including Major Isaac Boro, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, Chief Melford Okilo, Pa Ernest Ikoli, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Dr. Lambert Eradiri, Chief N. A. Frank Opigo, Senator Amatari Zuofa, Dr. Amba Ambaiowei, T. K. Ogoriba, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Dan Etete, Vice Admiral Victor Ombu and Rear Admiral W. G. Yanga, among others.
He said their sacrifices imposed an enduring responsibility on the present generation to build a better state.
“Some gave their time. Some gave their resources. Some gave their liberty. Some paid the ultimate price. To all of them, we owe an enduring debt of gratitude.”
He noted that the state inherited enormous challenges at creation, including difficult terrain, inadequate infrastructure, poor connectivity, a fragile economic base and the need to deliberately develop Yenagoa as the state capital.
According to him, the development of an international airport, universities and polytechnics, roads and bridges, as well as increased federal presence, had transformed the state from its humble beginnings.
He acknowledged the contributions of successive administrations, stressing that development was a continuum and that the progress of Bayelsa belonged to all those that served and sacrificed for the state.
He said his administration was consolidating on the foundations laid by previous governments through investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, power and human capital development.
On infrastructure, the governor said the three senatorial roads were receiving renewed attention, while the state’s Independent Power Project was being expanded from 60 megawatts to 100 megawatts.
He also disclosed that work was progressing on the 30,000-capacity stadium and the nine-storey secretariat complex.
Diri said his administration was also committed to completing inherited projects, noting that scarce public resources must be prioritised for projects with the greatest benefits to the people.
“Much has been achieved, and much remains unfinished. Our roads must reach every corner of the state. Our power supply must grow to match our ambitions. And our young people must find real opportunities to work, to build and to prosper.
“As we celebrate 30 years of Bayelsa State, let us not merely look back with pride. Let us look forward with purpose.”
After the state broadcast,
Senator Diri also hosted a live media chat during which he responded to questions from a panel of journalists on a wide range of issues.
He spoke on his administration’s success story and expressed joy that it had succeeded in its vision to place the state on the path of industrialisation.
Diri, who assured people of the state that electricity supply would get to more communities when the distribution network was sorted out, advised residents to be ready to pay for electricity consumed.
He described the journey to statehood “as a long journey seeking for identity, independence and space in the Nigerian project and some persons in the course of that journey paid the supreme price.”
He described road infrastructure as a major investment of his administration, stating that at creation, only the headquarters of the current Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia and Yenagoa were accessible by land but that today, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, Nembe councils have been connected to the capital city.
Diri noted that the development had greatly reduced travel time, improved security and boosted socio-economic activities of the people.
“These local government headquarters cannot be allowed to be exploited the way they have been exploited. If everybody thought that constructing a 630-meter bridge across River Nun to Oporoma was an impossibility, we have proved and will continue to prove that it is not an impossibility.
“Today, the people of Oporoma, the people of Southern Ijaw, are happy. The economic benefits are enormous. There are security benefits, economic benefits, political benefits, and social benefits of road infrastructure.”
On the need for public-private partnership to generate employment, the governor said his administration had invested in aquaculture at the Bayelsa Aquaculture Village at Yenegwe and harnessing the potential inherent in the agricultural sector as well as the blue economy for job creation.
He urged the youths to acquire skills rather than rely on white collar jobs, and stated that underwater welding would be introduced in the curriculum of the technical colleges and other higher institutions in the state.
“Underwater welding should be introduced to our vocational and technical schools, and to our higher institutions. The blue economy is a huge one. We have already started with the Agge Sea Port.
“From when the ministry was created, we have linked up with the Federal Ministry and recently, the Minister made some far-reaching statements about deep seaports and the development of some other seaports outside Lagos. Our wealth is actually in the Atlantic Ocean, and you know all our three senatorial roads lead to the Atlantic Ocean.”