Bayelsa At 30: Diri Calls For Faster Development As State Begins Anniversary With Thanksgiving
By Jonah Fubara, YENAGOA –Â Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has called for an accelerated development drive as the state begins activities marking its 30th anniversary, saying the state has made progress since its creation but must move faster to realise its full potential.
Diri, who spoke through his deputy, Peter Akpe, at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa, on Sunday, said Bayelsa’s 30th anniversary provided an opportunity to appreciate God, reflect on the state’s journey and chart a stronger course for the future.
Bayelsa was created on October 1, 1996, by the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha.
The governor said the progress recorded over the past three decades was significant, but acknowledged that more needed to be done to take the state to where it ought to be.
“If you were around 30 years ago, I believe you will say in all things we should give thanks, and specifically for where we are, we should appreciate God,” Diri said.
He added, “Some of us who are around can also tell you that we are not where we used to be, though we have a trajectory of where we are going to. The speed of getting there needs to be accelerated.”
Diri identified infrastructure development as one of the major achievements of his administration, saying more than 85 per cent of communities across the state had been touched by one government project or another since 2020.
He said the administration had prioritised the construction of internal roads, opening up new road networks and completing abandoned projects.
According to him, the transformation of Yenagoa and other parts of the state has also broken the old pattern of having limited access routes into the state capital.
“Bayelsa is no longer a one entrance, one exit city anymore. You can now enter from all locations and all angles,” he said.
The governor said his administration’s policy of completing abandoned projects was driven by the need to ensure that public resources were not wasted.
“Any project that we execute, we are only guided as leaders to ensure those projects are executed. It is our money, the money of Bayelsans. There is no need to waste it with political thoughts,” he said.
He added that the government had completed almost all abandoned projects inherited by the administration.
In his sermon titled, “Help From God,” the guest preacher, Pastor Kontei Krinya, urged Bayelsans and their leaders to recognise the limitations of human efforts and seek divine guidance in the affairs of the state.
Krinya said everybody needs help at one point or another, regardless of position or status, stressing that lasting solutions to the challenges confronting individuals and society require help from God.
Drawing lessons from Isaiah 6 and Judges 5, the cleric said Bayelsa’s 30th anniversary should not only be a celebration of past achievements but also a moment for the state to seek divine direction for the years ahead.
He prayed for peace, economic sustainability and accelerated development in Bayelsa.
The thanksgiving service formally ushered in activities for the October 1 anniversary celebration, with government officials, lawmakers, traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders joining in prayers for the state.
Among those at the service were the governor’s wife, Gloria Diri; wife of the deputy governor, Favour Akpe; Senators Benson Agadaga and Friday Kombowei-Benson; members of the House of Representatives, Oforgi Oboku, Rodney Ambaiowei and Marie Ebikake; Leader of the State House of Assembly, Monday Obolo-Bubou; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei; commissioners, local government chairmen and other senior government officials.
