Tag: Diri

Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, has called for concerted efforts and support for the military and other security agencies to bring the killers of the 17 soldiers in the Okuama community in Delta state to justice.

Diri, who strongly condemned the killings, again expressed his deep condolences and that of the Bayelsa government to the families of the slain military personnel, the wider Armed Forces family, and the Army in particular.

He stressed that no effort should be spared to bring the perpetrators to book.

Read Also: Diri, others join Fubara to bury mother-in-law in Rivers

Diri’s chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said in a press statement on Wednesday that Diri stated that Bayelsa, being a proud host to the headquarters of the joint services Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), the Central Naval Command, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Mobility Command, and the Nigerian Army 16 Brigade was understandably outraged at the heinous attack on the military personnel that is cherished members of the communities they are located and the state.

He said the government would continue to support the military and other law enforcement institutions in their mission in the state.

The governor has consequently directed all the security commanders in the state as well as the coordinator of the Bayelsa Community Safety Corps, Brig-General Eric Angaye (rtd), to scale up surveillance and patrol of the state’s borders and the waterways.

Diri said: “The killing of our soldiers is barbaric, satanic, and outright criminal criminality. And anyone involved should be seen and treated as a criminal under our laws.”

He urged people of the state, particularly residents of the Igbomotoru community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, to remain calm as the government would ensure that law-abiding citizens were protected and safe at all times.

Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and other dignitaries at the weekend joined Rivers Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, to bury his mother-in-law, Mrs. Adeline Ndalu Jaja at Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area of the state.

The funeral attracted top dignitaries from the political class, business community, traditional leaders, clergies, captains of industry, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, parastatals, commissions, among others.

Key stakeholders in attendance were former Rivers Governor Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili, JSC, (rtd); Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu; Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo and former National Chairman, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.

Others were former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo; Senators John Azuta Mbata and Lee Maeba; former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara; Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka; Chief Emeh Glory Emeh; National and State Assembly members from both Rivers and Bayelsa among others.

Speaking at the funeral service, Fubara, said that it was imperative for people to reflect on their lives and change their ways if their style would not open doors of better opportunities for their children.

The Governor said it was  disastrous for parents or leaders to conduct their lives without regard to building a good name that would become valuable currency for their children.

He said: “We are all here this afternoon to say bye-bye to Mama. But I want you to go home with something. And by the grace of God, I don’t think there will be any counter to the point I will make.

“How do we live our lives? Can we live in such a way that when we are no more, our names can open doors for our children? That is what I want you to go home with.

“Mama has lived her life, and it has opened a lot of doors for her biological children. Even those people that are close to Mama, when you mention that you know so and so person, doors will open.

“So, I want everybody here to go back and reflect on it. You must live life so that when you are no more, and our children who are left behind mention our names, those names open doors for them. I feel that is the greatest virtue parents should leave for their children”.

Fubara further said that Mama was a good example because she lived a good life, simple, and promoted justice.

The governor also declared that his confidence is in God, “who is the foundation on which his administration is anchored”.

He assured that despite the contending challenges, the state and his administration had triumphed.

He said: “I want to thank every one of you this afternoon, more especially our leaders, true leaders of our dear State. Leaders, because one of the reasons why one is called a leader is your experience and age.

“True leaders are here to support us in these our trial times. I want to thank all of you, and to say, continue to stand for what is right and what is true.”

Fubara expressed appreciation to Diri for his show of love by being physically present while he buried his late mother-in-law.

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The Governor also thanked the “true leaders” of the state, who had stood with him to promote what is right and to protect the interest of the State.

Fubara particularly acknowledged the fatherly role played by the Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, and for ensuring that peace continued to prevail in the kingdom.

In his speech, Diri conveyed the condolences of sister states in the region to Governor Fubara, his family and Rivers people for their loss.

Diri said it was always sad to have a loved one die, no matter the age, adding that late Mrs Adeline Ndalu Jaja would have lived longer, especially now that her daughter is the First Lady of Rivers State but quickly pointed out that death is a pointer to how temporary life is on earth.

Diri, who attended the burial with his entourage, extended the deepest condolences of government and people of Bayelsa State to the Rivers first family.

Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, read the  biography of the late matriarch, which was a testimony of a courageous leader, who rose from a humble beginning and disciplined parentage to success, with a career in the Nigeria Police Force that spanned years of active service till her retirement in 1997.

The only lesson at the funeral service anchored on divine atonement and respite for those in grief was taken by Mrs Vanessa Apiafi Banigo.

Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, has expressed that his administration is working towards creating a new Bayelsa where sustainable development will not be hindered by political boundaries.

In a statement released by Diri’s spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, the governor made this remark during a grand reception organized in honour of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil).

The event took place at the Ekeremor community pavilion in the Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.

Others also honoured at the event were the state representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Denyanbofa Dimaro, a member of the board of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mrs. Bekearedebo Warrens as well as a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kemasuode Wodu and Mr. Felix Okorotie, who were both conferred with the legal titles of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

He stressed that the time for politicking was over and urged the people irrespective of political differences to rally round his administration to accelerate the pace of development.

Diri, who expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing illustrious sons and a daughter of the state into various positions of trust in his administration, also appreciated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for his role in the appointment of Senator Lokpobiri as minister.

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He said: “This is not the time for PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) or APC (All Progressives Congress). Politics is over. It is time for governance.

“We do not have party differences in Bayelsa but what we have is the development of our state and Nigeria at large. Let us jettison petty jealousies and join hands to develop our state so that it will grow from strength to strength.

“The persons appointed have what it takes to represent Bayelsa. Under Senator Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, we will see a different kind of representation. We need to partner with the NDDC and the Delta State government to build a bridge across both states.

“We need to also partner with the NDDC to take the Ekeremor road to Agge. We need this road infrastructure for easy movement of our people.”

The governor also promised that the construction work on the Nembe-Brass road in Bayelsa East senatorial district would continue and hinted that the Federal Government had indicated interest in the project.

“On behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, l thank President Bola Tinubu for making these appointments possible. Aside from God and the president, l also thank the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for contributing to the appointment of Lokpobiri as minister.”

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, a former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Matthew Seiyefa, also thanked President Tinubu for the appointment of sons and a daughter of Ekeremor.

Seiyefa, who is also Pro-Chancellor of the state-owned Niger Delta University, said it was heartwarming that Ekeremor alone produced two Senior Advocates of Nigeria by dint of hard work and perseverance attained at the highest level in the legal profession.

In his solidarity message, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the gesture of honouring people that had excelled in various fields of endeavour serves as a source of encouragement for others to work hard.

Ogbuku said the commission would collaborate with the government to ensure the completion of the Ekeremor-Agge road project and a regional bridge project linking Bayelsa and Delta states.

Also delivering his solidarity message, the Pere of Tuomo Kingdom and retired Supreme Court Justice, King Francis Tabai, urged the youths to see the celebrants as a source of inspiration by taking their education seriously, saying without education, they would not have been celebrating the successes achieved by Lokpobiri and others.

Responding on behalf of other honourees, Lokpobiri expressed appreciation to the leaders of Ekeremor as well as the state governor for the honour done them.

He said the idea of honouring him despite being an APC member was laudable, noting that what mattered most was the character of the candidate in an election rather than the party he represents.

Lokpobiri equally thanked Wike for being instrumental to his appointment and also expressed gratitude to the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and other prominent personalities for gracing the event.

The Bayelsa State Police Command has arraigned two persons in Kaiama High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, over alleged conspiracy and attempted kidnap of Mr. Ebi Ayama, popularly known as Americana.

Ayama is a brother to Governor Douye Diri.

The two suspects — Lucky Oghenebrume, 53, and Omobowho Okpowodo, 52 — were arrested by men of the Operation Puff Adder of the Police Command in November, 2023 at Mbiama, a border community in Rivers State.

Their arrest, according to the police authorities, was made possible through intelligence gathering and detailed investigation.

The two suspects arraigned at the Kaiama High Court sitting in Yenagoa with suit No. BYH/KHC/CR/2/2024, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police prosecution told the court that Oghenebrume was the mastermind and had been on the wanted list of the State Police Command over alleged involvement in the abduction of one Fyneman in Sagbama area of the state where a ransom of N50 million was paid.

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The second suspect, Okpowodo, was identified as the owner of a motor mechanic workshop, where they targeted victims while carrying out repairs on their vehicles.

Okpowodo, according to the police prosecution, was allegedly overheard planning to abduct Mr. Ebi Ayama on his way from Ekeremor area of the state.

The presiding judge, Justice T. Songi, has adjourned the case until 27th February, 2024.

Meanwhile, a cross-section of the residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has commended the digital innovation by the State Police Command led by CP Alonyenu Francis Idu with the deployment of drones and other operational assets to tackle crime and threats to peace in the state.

According to Comrade Jameson Peters, a resident of Opolo, the proactive response to emergencies such as the recent communal clash in the area is commendable

“The coordination among security agencies shows that the present administration is disposed to peace and security of lives and property,” Peters said.