By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri has commended the elders and the people of the state for their resilience during the November 11th, 2023 governorship election.
Governor Diri who disclosed this at the Douye Diri Peace Prize And Leadership Lecture/Book Presentation at the PEE’S HUB Event Center, Yenagoa, expressed gratitude for their support and emphasized the importance of peace and unity in the state.
He also highlighted the need for attention to the state’s internally generated revenue and the ecological problems in the region.
Several prominent leaders and speakers voiced their support for the governor and emphasized the importance of unity and development in the Niger Delta region.
The governor’s second term bid enjoyed the support of important Ijaw leaders and the Bayelsa Elders Council, reflecting a strong endorsement from key stakeholders in the state
Governor Diri’s emphasis on peace, unity, and the development of the state aligns with the support he has garnered from various leaders and stakeholders in the region.
Governor Diri’s recognition of the challenges faced by the state and his call for unity and development reflect his commitment to addressing the needs of the people and the region.
The support he has received from prominent leaders and elders further underscores the significance of his leadership and the collective efforts towards the progress of Bayelsa State.
According to Diri, the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, the elders and the people of the state stood by him. “All leaders did what was expected both home and abroad. This victory was not only because the governor worked hard but because the people knew what they wanted”.
“Peace and unity has eluded this state for some times, life was being threatened because of those who failed to do the bidding of other parties. Now that we have come to enjoy some level of peace and unity, we will not want to lose it.
“We cannot achieve anything because we were so factionalized, hence a committee was set up headed by late Inatimi Rufus Spiff and they went a long way to reconcile all the leaders and political stakeholders. We have no other home to go apart from Bayelsa”.
“Once again the Niger Delta has to sit up, it is not yet uhuru. We will give our support to the development of the state”.
Diri said, it’s unfair for Bayelsa to have eight (8) local government areas, saying meanwhile all the resources come from here. “Is that the country we want to continue to run?
The keynote speaker, Senator Sunday Marshal Katung, said the people of the Niger Delta should reject being described as militants when they are fighting for what belongs to them.
Senator Katung decried the ecological problems in Bayelsa state and call for more attention both from the federal government and the international communities.
“To change this tide and put the Ijaw nation in its rightful place, there is a need to take advantage of the opportunities that the global Community offers in harnessing our human resources and addressing challenges. This can be achieved by the networks of the relevant stakeholders, organized private sector, civil society organization, mass media and other stakeholders towards raising the banner of Advocacy and social responsibilities”, he added.
In his welcome address, the Director General, “Yes Diri” who is also the host Gentle Emelah, said there is no better time than now to start the Noble process of projecting the Ijaw Nation for Global Representation even as the country is passing through it’s most turbulent times in history.
