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Tag: Douye Diri

  • Diri and politics of national integration

    Diri and politics of national integration

    By Jonah Okah

    The 15th of October 2025 marked a watershed in the political history of Bayelsa State when Governor Douye Diri announced his bold and historic decision to switch political allegiance from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).

    The announcement, made during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa, was witnessed by the Speaker and majority members of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Special Advisers, and Local Government Chairmen. It was the culmination of an extensive period of consultation aimed at charting a new political course for Bayelsa and, by extension the Ijaw Nation ,  particularly a state that had remained under PDP control for 26 years since the return of democracy in 1999.

    Governor Diri’s decision was not a personal whim, but one rooted in collective interest. It reflects a strategic understanding of the historical and political realities of the old Rivers State, from which Bayelsa was carved. The region has always maintained strong connections to politics at the national level, championed by visionary leaders such as late Chief Harold Dappa Biriye and late Chief Melford Okilo of blessed memory  who recognized the importance of “handshakes across the Niger”,  alliances that once led to the establishment of the 13% derivation for oil-producing states.

    Since the fall of the PDP from power at the centre in 2015, Bayelsa had found itself in the opposition. Many Bayelsans have been worried and argued that remaining isolated from the ruling party has deprived the state of vital opportunities for development and integration. With all major South-South states now aligned with the APC, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a Southerner seeking re-election, it became imperative for Bayelsa not to be left behind. Yes, some claim he was the mastermind behind the ouster of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and are now urging Jonathan to return the favour by challenging President Tinubu in a bid for revenge. Fascinating as it is perhaps; but where then lies our sense of providence which once smiled on the people of the state? Also, where is the place of forgiveness?

    While a few diehard PDP loyalists may resist change, clinging to a party now gasping for political survival, the vast majority have no hesitation in seeing the wisdom in aligning with the centre. Governor Diri’s move is not about personal gain but the future of the Ijaw Nation over the benefits of national political integration. After all , Senator Diri as a second-term governor,  has nothing to lose politically. Rather, it is an act of statesmanship; a forward-looking decision intended to reposition the Ijaw Nation within the framework of national integration and progressive politics.

    From a broader perspective, Diri’s realignment reflects the collective aspirations of the Ijaw people spread across Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States , being the governor of the Ijaw capital, he bears the responsibility of steering the Ijaw Nation into a new era of constructive engagement with the centre politics which is not defined  by partisanship, but by development purposes.

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    Critics may however differ, but the majority of Ijaw stakeholders stand firmly behind this vision. The Diri administration is currently undertaking audacious infrastructural projects across all three senatorial districts, many of which require federal partnership. Encouragingly, President Tinubu had already demonstrated goodwill by supporting the completion of the long-awaited Nembe–Ogbia Road, a project that had lingered on the drawing board for over four decades.

    Other critical roads such as the Sagbama–Ekeremor–Agge Road, the Yenagoa–Oporoma–Ukubie Road, and the Polaku–Sabagreia Road, all demand federal intervention due to their capital-intensive nature. These projects are vital arteries of economic growth for the state.

    Clearly, Bayelsa cannot afford to remain on an island of opposition while development beckons on the mainland of collaboration. As former Military President Ibrahim Babangida once said, “Do not be afraid of taking a decision; history will forgive you for taking a wrong decision but history  will never forgive you for not  taking any decision at all.”

    Governor Douye Diri’s decision to steer Bayelsa out of the straitjacket of partisan rigidity into a new era of progressive partnership is courageous, selfless, and timely. Having been a prominent voice in the Ijaw National Congress and a committed advocate of pan-Ijaw unity, his move reflects a deep understanding of what is best for his people. This is not merely a change of political platform, but a defining statement of purpose that politics must transcend personal ambition and serve the collective good. In doing so, Governor Diri has etched his name in the annals of progressive politics, thereby giving the Ijaw Nation a renewed sense of pride in the unfolding “national handshake” across the Niger and beyond.

    This is not just a political shift, it is a defining moment of purpose. It reaffirms that politics must be about the collective good, not personal ambition. In doing so, Governor Diri has etched his name in the annals of progressive politics and has given the Ijaw Nation a renewed sense of pride in the unfolding “national handshake” across the Niger, and indeed, across the Sahara. As it is always said,

    History will always remember those who saw beyond party lines to place their people on the path of national relevance. That is certainly the judgement  of history beckoning on governor Douye Diri.      

    Jonah Okah , a lawyer /Journalist wrote in this piece from Yenagoa.

  • Lokpobiri, Wike, others okay Diri’s exit from PDP

    Lokpobiri, Wike, others okay Diri’s exit from PDP

    • Deputy governor yet to decide
    • Dickson, Obi kick
    • PDP state chairmen endorse convention

    Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was hit in its underbelly again yesterday with the resignation of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri from its fold.

    Twenty-four hours earlier, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, at a well-attended event with Vice President Kashim Shettima in attendance, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Diri, who served as chairman of the PDP’s zoning committee ahead of next month’s convention until yesterday, announced that he had resigned his membership of the PDP forthwith.

    Although he did not state which party he is joining, sources said he is heading for the APC.

    He said: “After extensive consultation, today, the 15th day of October 2025, I wish to formally notify you that in keeping with the extant protocols, I, Governor Douye Diri, do hereby resign my membership of the PDP.

    “I am not resigning alone, as you can see. I am here with Mr Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all the members of our party (in the Assembly) who are with me on this.

    “So, I have formally resigned from the PDP for very obvious reasons.”

    Apart from the House of Assembly members, those of the state executive council have also resigned from the PDP.

    But Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was not with the governor when he announced he was leaving the party.

    It was learnt that he had not made up his mind on whether to follow the governor out of the party that brought them into power.

    Diri’s action got the backing of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who urged him to complete the process by joining the APC without hesitation.

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike also endorsed Diri’s exit from the PDP.

    But Diri’s immediate predecessor, Sen. Seriake Dickson and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi faulted the governor’s action.

    Also yesterday, Sen. Ben Murray Bruce, who represented Bayelsa East, defected from the PDP to the APC.

    Apart from Lokpobiri, other APC leaders in Bayelsa, such as former Governor-elect Mr. David Lyon, former Deputy Governor-elect Senator Degi Eremienyo, Osomkime Blankson and Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli, welcomed the governor’s resignation.

    Lokpobiri advises Diri to join APC

    Lokpobiri, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor, praised Diri for “jumping out of the sinking ship” in the interest of the state.

    He described his decision as “a bold, patriotic, and strategic step toward Bayelsa’s greater integration with federal development efforts.”

    He urged the governor to formally join the APC to “ensure full alignment of the state with the Federal Government and to tap into the transformative policies and developmental opportunities under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

    Wike lauds Tinubu’s pull factor

    Wike said he has been vindicated by the defections to the APC.

    He said the governors should commend the President for “doing a good job” of paving the way for them to join the ruling party.

    Wike added: “I have been watching on daily television and social media, people who said I want to destabilise the party, I am working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC.

    “So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them.”

    The minister said under the Tinubu Administration, there is no excuse for poor performance because every state has enough resources to pay salaries and embark on credible projects.

    Wike said: “Let every state be sincere to their people, and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects.

    “Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to mention doing projects.

    “Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states, and the Federal Capital Territory, not to be running around banks again, banks are now looking for states to say: ‘Look, don’t throw us away, we are here.

    “Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money, not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before.”

    Wike described the decisions to defect and support the Tinubu-led administration as “worthwhile”, adding that no governor will leave debts for their successors any longer, as it used to be.

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    He said: “So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile.

    “Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen. That is the leadership of somebody.

    “And that’s what this country needs for now. Visionary leadership, purposeful leadership, that will be able to make decisions. Decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity”.

    Dickson: Diri’s resignation ridiculous

    Senator Dickson distanced himself from Diri’s resignation, saying it was “ridiculous.’’   

    Wondering why the governor, who is in his second term in office, would leave his party, Dickson warned that the growing wave of opposition figures crossing over to the ruling APC poses a grave danger to the nation’s democracy.

    The former governor, who represents Bayelsa West in the Senate, criticised some PDP leaders for defecting to the APC instead of fixing the internal problems they created.

    He said: “I remain where I have always been, in the PDP. I do not believe Nigeria should be a one-party state. As a soldier of democracy, I am used to the ups and downs of political life.

    “I remain steadfast in the PDP, working with colleagues to ensure that the problems in the party are solved.

    “I hope the governors and the leadership who created the mess in our party, instead of showing leadership, will now take responsibility.

    “It is very sad. It makes Nigeria look small and makes our democracy look ridiculous,” he said.

    The former governor lamented what he described as a culture of political opportunism in Nigeria, contrasting it with Ghana’s democratic tradition.

    He said: “In Ghana, when President Mahama lost the elections, he stayed in his party. When Akufo-Addo’s party later lost, they stayed.

    “President Mahama contested again, won, and was congratulated by his opponent even before the final tally. That’s democracy.

    “In Nigeria, politicians defect at the slightest opportunity, whatever they are pursuing or whatever is pursuing them. It belittles our democracy and endangers our multi-party system. 

    “There must always be opposition. A democracy without opposition ceases to be a democracy; it becomes a dictatorship and totalitarianism.” 

    The senator revealed that  Diri consulted him several times before he resigned from the PDP. 

    “The governor consulted me several times, to his credit. I was not convinced because I saw no compelling reason for a second-term governor to defect,” he said.

    Nobody can capture Southeast, says Obi

    No political party can capture any state electorally because a governor defects to it, Obi said.

    He told reporters in Abuja, while reacting to the gale of defections to the ruling APC, especially in the Southeast, that this is a democracy, not military rule, where states are captured.

    Obi said: “The people will decide where to go, not governors or Senators, no party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor.

    “Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine. And I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations”

    “As for the alleged plot to capture the Southeast, we are not in a military time when you capture people. You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you.

    “So, I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere. The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it.”

    PDP chair: Diri’s reasons not clear yet

    Bayelsa State PDP Chairman Solomon  Agwana, in an interview, ruled out the likelihood of challenging Diri’s action in court.

    He said he would not, for now, make an elaborate comment on the development because the reasons adduced by the governor were sketchy.

    He said: “He is the leader of the party here. He had reasons for leaving, so let’s still give him some time so that the reasons become clear. As of today, the details remain unclear.

    “We cannot say as a party if we are joining him; he has not said where he is going. He resigned from the party today, so let’s give him some time for us to know where he is heading, and then subsequent details will be made public.’’

    Agwana dismissed the idea of a legal challenge to Diri’s resignation, adding that the party at the national level was grappling with a lot of defection issues, which it has not resolved.

    Murray-Bruce explains defection

    Murray-Bruce declared support for President Tinubu’s economic and governance reforms.

    In a statement yesterday, he said his decision to join APC was driven by conviction, not politics, describing Tinubu as a leader “driven by results, not applause.”

    “I have known President Tinubu since 1998. He is courageous, focused, and committed to results. Today, I can boldly say he is on the right track,” he said.

    The former lawmaker praised the administration’s economic policies, noting that the President “understands finance” and is “laying the foundation for tomorrow’s prosperity” through deregulation and market-oriented reforms.

    He lauded improvements in national security, monetary policy, and infrastructure, saying: “The Central Bank is stabilising the economy, the fuel sector is deregulated, and roads, ports, and housing projects are springing up nationwide.”

    Acknowledging current hardship, Murray-Bruce urged Nigerians to remain patient, describing reform as “never painless but necessary for rebirth.”

    “I am joining the APC not for politics, but for progress,” he said. “I believe Tinubu’s leadership will deliver the Nigeria we dream of. I choose to stand with reform and the future.”

    Shehu Sani backs defection

    Senator Shehu Sani, in a post on his X handle @ShehuSani, stated: “Why should a man in LP be angry with a man from PDP who moved to APC when you knew that most of the People in LP were people who voluntarily migrated from PDP or were forced to leave the PDP.

    “You left Africa for Syria, and they left Africa for Spain. You are in Syria with Abure, and you are angry that they left for Spain. You saw the vision and left, and they trailed your footsteps. The defectors only divorced the wife you once divorced.”

  • BREAKING: Bayelsa Gov Douye Diri dumps PDP

    BREAKING: Bayelsa Gov Douye Diri dumps PDP

    Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    His Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the governor’s exit.

    Diri, who announced this on Wednesday at the exco chamber in the Bayelsa State Government House, did not state the political party that he will be moving to.

    The governor said he left the opposition party for “very obvious reasons”.

    “Today, I have formally resigned my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party for very obvious reasons

    “I am grateful to all my friends and supporters who have stood by us and with us, and I want to thank all of you. Together, we will continue to build a strong, virile Bayelsa state and a strong and virile country by extension.”

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    His decision was backed by 23 members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Abraham Ngobere.

    Diri’s defection came 24 hours after his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    As of the time of filing this report, Governor Diri has not yet declared his next move.

    The PDP had already lost three governors to the APC this year, and with this development, the opposition party is left with eight governors.

    Details shortly…

  • Eradiri welcomes Diri’s planned defection to APC

    Eradiri welcomes Diri’s planned defection to APC

    …tasks governor to unify Sylva-Lokpobiri’s camp

    A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has welcomed the reported plan by Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Eradiri, who is also a chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa, urged Diri to first convene a stakeholders’ meeting and use his position as governor to resolve the internal crisis currently dividing the party in the state.

    The former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa specifically appealed to Diri to unite the camps of former Governor Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri.

    He cautioned the governor against yielding to any pressure to sideline Sylva, describing the pioneer APC leader in Bayelsa as an indispensable figure in the party’s history and structure.

    Eradiri stressed that excluding Sylva from the ongoing discussions would be counterproductive, urging Diri to bring his trademark peaceful disposition and leadership style to bear in reconciling differences within the APC.

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    Addressing the governor, Eradiri said, “I commend you again for the way you managed the PDP in Bayelsa. The PDP was stable until the recent conflicts that arose in Rivers, which led to some of the divisions we have seen. You came in as governor and managed all the interests until you took over the structures.”

    He added that Diri’s capacity for consensus-building and conflict resolution would be vital in repositioning the APC in Bayelsa ahead of future political contests.

    “I believe that your coming to APC is to come and also manage this emotion to the point where we will have one strong party because the day you join the APC, you become the leader by the Constitution of the party.

    “Former Governor Sylva has contributed immensely to the development of APC. All those people throwing stones at Sylva today were not there when Sylva was toiling and building this party. We were in the PDP, and we fought him to ensure that we had our way. But that strengthens the APC we have in the state today.

    “Heineken Lokpobiri became minister, and he allowed these people to push him around, and he wants to assert leadership. It won’t work. There must be seeming respect for the man who had toiled and suffered for the foundation of this party. Sylva has supported a lot of people, including the Minister. You can’t just push him aside.

    “We expect that you bring your peaceful demeanour to come and override these interests and lead it as a peaceful house. Bayelsa has a lot of benefits to derive from the APC if we are a strong, united family.

    “We don’t want a situation where you come in and these individuals will begin to push you on one side to undermine Sylva and others who hold the structure of the party. I am appealing to you to call a stakeholders’ meeting, engage Sylva, the Minister, and bring this party together before your formal defection”.

    Eradiri further insisted that with strong leadership from the governor, Bayelsa would benefit immensely from the looming defection.

    He recalled that he once advised the governor, his predecessors, Senator Seriake Dickson, and other Ijaw leaders to move to the ruling party to enable the state attract the necessary development.

    Eradiri said with Diri concluding his plans to defect to the APC, Bayelsa would have the global exposure required to attract investors.

    He said, “What are the things we are going to benefit from this APC?  It is the capacity that you dispense as a leader that will guarantee the activities for the betterment of your people. If you are in the APC, you must be up and doing.

    “You were in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and you were holding meetings at the sidelines with investors. The implication of being an APC man is that when you leave, those investors you have spoken to will call your country or the Presidency. If you are not aligned, they will take that investment to the state that is APC.

    “If you are in the ruling party, they will secure the investments for you. The beauty of working with the party in power is that you are also seated at the table of discussion. The President is going abroad for engagements, and our governor will also be there without any fear or favour. On the sidelines, he can be marketing the state, and because you are always with the President, there is this confidence in the investments or transactions.

    “When leaders sit down to discuss Nigeria, you will have Bayelsans and the Ijaw Nation seated at the table. I saw the meeting of APC leaders, and there was no Ijaw on that table. We are the fourth largest ethnic nationality, and that is why I have been critical about the kind of decisions and actions we take so that it doesn’t boomerang to affect us negatively.

    “We must conduct ourselves in such a way that we are part and parcel of decision-making. We cannot be contributing to all the resources, and we are not on the table of decision-making. I want to welcome you to the APC, and we are ready to support you to succeed”.

  • Gas turbines: Diri assures on 24 hour power as Bayelsa celebrates 29 years of statehood

    Gas turbines: Diri assures on 24 hour power as Bayelsa celebrates 29 years of statehood

    Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the procurement of a 60-megawatt gas turbine by his administration was a milestone worth celebrating by the state as it turned 29 on October 1, 2025.

    Governor Diri also stated that when fully installed, it would not only guarantee 24-hour power supply in the state but would also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

    Diri stated this in a statewide broadcast on the twin occasion of Nigeria’s 65th Independence and Bayelsa’s 29th statehood anniversary on October 1, 2025.

    While congratulating Nigeria’s leader, President Bola Tinubu, as well as the people of the country and Bayelsa on the anniversary celebrations, Governor Diri expressed the hope of better days ahead.

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    According to him, his Assured Prosperity administration continues to progress with landmark projects, including the nine‑storey state secretariat complex that would provide efficient administrative space for public servants.

    Senator Diri equally stated that the ongoing construction of the 25,000‑capacity stadium would foster youth development as the facility would inspire young people and showcase Bayelsa on a larger scale.

    He said: “The recent arrival of the 60‑megawatt gas turbines marks a major milestone and brings us much closer to reliable, round‑the‑clock power in our state. That development will reduce household expenses, attract investment, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

    “Work is also progressing well on other landmark projects. The nine‑storey State Secretariat complex is advancing steadily and will provide modern, efficient administrative space for our public servants and the people they serve. To foster sports and youth development, we are building a 25,000‑capacity, Olympic‑standard stadium — a facility that will inspire our young people and showcase Bayelsa on the national and international stage.

    On development in the education sector, he said the state had recorded significant progress in academic performance and infrastructure upgrade.

    “Our schools are improving. Recent NECO results have shown strong performances by our students, with Bayelsa among the top five states in Nigeria. To deepen pragmatic education, we have established science, technical and vocational colleges in every local government area.

    “The ones at Ayamasa, Ofoni, Swali, Sampou and Opume have been completed and functional while others are nearing completion in Brass, Igbeta‑Ewoma and Oporoma.”

  • Otti, Fintiri, Diri, Abiodun, Mutfwang, others get Federal Govt’s tech awards

    Otti, Fintiri, Diri, Abiodun, Mutfwang, others get Federal Govt’s tech awards

    Governors Alex Otti (Abia State), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) are among the distinguished leaders and organisations set to receive the 2025 Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards.

    The Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), has become a landmark event that brings together participants from across Nigeria and the international community.

    This year’s edition will be held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on October 9 and 10.

    In a statement on the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, emphasised the significance of the theme: “Redefining Possibilities: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Public Service Delivery and Socio-Economic Development.”

    He noted that the theme is not just a call to innovation but a strategic response to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at leveraging technology to transform governance, enhance service delivery, and stimulate sustainable socio-economic development.

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    The conference will bring together senior government officials, technology innovators, development partners, civil society groups, and academia.

    Participants will deliberate on how emerging technologies can be applied to strengthen governance, modernise public administration, and expand Nigeria’s socio-economic opportunities.

    Giving an overview on the award, the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr. Dasuki I. Arabi, explained that the GovTech Public Service Awards recognise individuals and organisations who have championed innovation and transformation in Nigeria’s public sector over the past year.

    He said this year’s awardees were carefully selected through nationwide nominations and voting across multiple media platforms.

    “The awards are designed to celebrate excellence and to encourage leaders who have pioneered reforms that strengthen institutions and enhance service delivery to Nigerians,” Arabi added.

    Now in its third edition, the Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards has become the foremost platform for recognising and promoting technology-driven governance in Nigeria.

  • Diri to Federal Govt: PIA needs urgent review

    Diri to Federal Govt: PIA needs urgent review

    Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, has again urged the Federal Government to take a fresh look at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to resolve conflicts in Niger Delta oil-producing communities arising from implementation of the legislation.

    Senator Diri made the plea at the weekend in Yenagoa, during a book launch by King Bubaraye Dakolo, chairman of the state traditional rulers council.

    Diri was reacting to a comment by the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil),  Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who said that litigations in host communities had made it impossible for them to access monies in the Petroleum Industry Trust Fund meant for their development.

     He noted that when the PIA was a bill during the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the state presented its position that excluding the oil producing states and local councils from administration of host communities, as provided in the then bill, would result in crisis.

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    According to him, “the PIA, as it was designed, is a time bomb because the federal government cut off states and local government councils to deal directly with communities. It is my submission that the percentage due oil companies conspiratorially reduced from 10 per cent  to 3 per cent be reviewed.”

    “I also call on the federal government to immediately review the aspect where states and local governments were excluded from administering what is due to the communities. The states and councils are closer to the communities and it was wrong to have them excluded from the administration of these communities. The current situation is a recipe for crisis and I urge President Bola Tinubu to review it.”

    While congratulating Dakolo, who is the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, on the launch of his books, “The Pirates of the Gulf” and “The Kingfisher,” Senator Diri described the monarch as a rare king, and urged the younger generation to see him as a role model.

    He also described Dakolo as a literary giant, who took up the challenge after his ordeal at the Nigerian Defence Academy to fight injustice in the Niger Delta, emphasising that he has made a positive impact on the Ijaw nation and the country as a whole.

    Diri, who launched the books with the sum of N100 million on behalf of the state government, directed the Ministry of Education to adopt The Kingfisher as part of the state’s secondary school curriculum.

    “King Dakolo has served Bayelsa and Ijaw nation. Dakolo and l had been together in the Ijaw struggle. He is sound and very intelligent. He is a literary giant and l urge our youths of the ljaw nation to see him as their role model.”

    Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who was chairman at the event, congratulated Dakolo on his achievements, describing him as a man of many parts and a visionary leader.

    He lauded the monarch for his advocacy for a better deal for the Niger Delta people through his literary works, and equally called on operators of illegal refineries to desist from their activities as these contribute to degradation of the environment.

    Lokpobiri bemoaned oil communities inability to access the trust fund for their development as a result of the crisis and litigations emanating from them.

    Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, equally commended Dakolo for documenting his experience, which he said would create more enlightenment about the struggles of the Niger Delta.

    Ogbuku pledged the commission’s commitment to purchase copies of the two books and distribute to schools in the region.

    He expressed optimism that the gesture would help to promote education.

    The Pirates of the Gulf was reviewed by Dr. Ebidenyefa Nikade while Air Vice Marshal Kurotimi Obidake, representative of Major Gen.Solomon Udounwa (rtd), reviewed The Kingfisher.

  • Diri affirms Bayelsa’s readiness to host hitch-free 2028 NSF

    Diri affirms Bayelsa’s readiness to host hitch-free 2028 NSF

    Bayelsa  State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reassured that all projects needed to host a hitch-free National Sports Festival in 2028 will be ready given  the state’s  huge investment in sports.

    Diri spoke yesterday in Yenagoa during a courtesy visit by the National Sports Commission led by its Director General, Bukola Olopade.

    According to  Diri, what hindered Bayelsa in the past from hosting the NSF were sporting facilities, which he said was being addressed with the construction of a 25,000-capacity stadium, which can be expanded to 35,000.

    He assured that funds would not delay completion of the stadium as 30 per cent of the construction cost had been paid to the contractor, who had equally promised to deliver within the stipulated date of 2027.

    Diri stressed his administration investments in security, having procured Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras that monitor the state 24 hours and ensure a reasonable reduction in crime.

    He said: “Today is historic in the sporting history of Bayelsa State. We have been participating in national sports festivals.

    “As a former Commissioner for Sports, I am happy that we have made a bid that is acceptable to the NSC. Our state is peaceful, and we are a very hospitable people. We love visitors. Under my government, we have commissioners and Special Advisers that are not Bayelsans.

    “We are very prepared to host the National Sports Festival. The only issue we had was facility, but we are addressing it. The stadium is 25,000 capacity and is expandable to 35,000. We have paid the contractor 30 percent, and he is working day and night and has given us assurance.

    “In Bayelsa, we are more interested in grassroots sports development. We have the Governor’s Prosperity Cup, which is already producing football stars. We also have wrestling competitions and now one of the best table tennis facilities in the country.

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    “The issue of crime is one that we have tackled very well. We have invested so much in security, and the results are obvious.”

    Olapade said the visit was to inspect facilities before announcing the 2028 sports festival host.

    He said facilities inspected included the security infrastructure, medical facilities, wrestling gyms, table tennis halls as well as the ongoing construction of an ultramodern stadium.

    Olapade expressed optimism that Bayelsa will get the nod to host the festival, describing the state as very peaceful, hospitable and a sleeping giant with great potential in the sports sector.

    His words: “Bayelsa State presented an amazing bid for the 2028 sports festival. I was happy to know that there is an intentional desire by Bayelsa to host the sports festival. Bayelsa is a sleeping giant in sports.

    “Yenagoa is beautiful and peaceful. This is an amazingly peaceful and beautiful state, and it tells me that these are people ready to welcome visitors. The facilities on ground are amazing. Bayelsa is even ready to host the event today more than the next host.”

  • Ijaw deprivation motivated my infrastructure projects – Diri

    Ijaw deprivation motivated my infrastructure projects – Diri

    Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said that projects undertaken by his administration were inspired by decades long neglect and underdevelopment of his ljaw ethnic group.

    Diri spoke yesterday during an inspection of multimillion Naira projects in three local government areas of the state.

    A statement by an aide, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said that the projects inspected included the 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma link bridge, Oporoma road, Otuan road, Eniwari road in Southern Ijaw LGA, the Polaku/Sabagreia link bridge in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA as well as the 25,000-capacity stadium, Glory Drive Phase 3, nine-storey secretariat complex and Road One of the New Yenagoa City linking the Amassoma-Airport road, all in Yenagoa LGA.

    He quoted Diri as saying that as a former Ijaw activist, he had first-hand knowledge of the injustice and long neglect in Ijaw land, adding that as governor he was in a better position to address some of the development challenges of his people.

    His words: “Many do not understand where l am coming from. I was an Ijaw activist and so l am coming from a background of deprivation. The Ijaws are a people that had been deprived over the years and here l am having the opportunity to address some of these deprivation issues.

    “So, l do not need anybody to tell me what to do because l was already aware of the level of deprivation in Ijaw land. This little opportunity that l have, l need to prove to our people that our government is taking the right steps in tackling these challenges. It is not enough to be shouting and criticising.”

    At the Angiama-Oporoma bridge project handled by China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC), Senator Diri said the government had met its contractual obligations by fully funding the project and commended the contractor for the progress achieved.

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    He said Oporoma, as headquarters of a strategic local government area (Southern Ijaw) in Nigeria, had remained inaccessible by road for over six decades and restated his administration’s commitment to break the jinx.

    “This is a local government headquarters that has been inaccessible by road for over 60 years and it is a jinx we are poised to break. The quality and pace of work done speak to the competence of the construction company.

    “On the part of the government, we are keeping to our promises by not failing in terms of funding the projects. We are all happy – the contractor, government and indeed the beneficiaries, which are the people of this local government area.”

    At the new stadium site at Igbogene, Diri also expressed satisfaction with the quality of work, stating that the project was at the foundation stage of pilling and sand-filling.

    “The foundation is the most important aspect of this project. If you do not get the foundation right, then everything will collapse, particularly in a terrain like ours. You need a very solid foundation.

    “It follows that for a stadium project like this, you need to pile and do a lot of sand-filling. I am satisfied with what l have seen today.  It is clear to me that even with the rains, work can still continue here.”

    On cost variation of projects, Diri said his government was not expecting additional costs as contracts were awarded after the national economic downturn and based on current prices.

    He expressed optimism that the projects would be delivered within the stipulated time frame.

  • Diri wants third term

    Diri wants third term

    Bayelsa governor says eight years are not enough to deliver on his mandate

    I must confess I have been too far from Bayelsa State. But I remember an article I wrote on March 31, 2013, when the then Governor Seriake Dickson was advocating the criminalisation of ‘Dem say, dem say journalism’. I remember Prof Olatunji Dare, this newspaper’s editorial adviser, also published a piece he titled ‘From the cell phones’, which were reactions to the governor’s peculiar wish that some of the columnists in this paper, including myself, published on the issue.

    Twelve years after, I am here commenting again on another equally peculiar request of the incumbent governor, Douye Diri, that has attracted negative reactions from certain quarters.

    Given the kind of country we are in, not a few people have been piqued by the governor’s request for more time for governors in office. Indeed, I knew the governor would be pilloried for asking for tenure extension for governors when about a week ago I first came across the news in the social media. I took it with a pinch of salt initially, coming from the social media where everyone is now a journalist. But by the time I saw the news in the mainstream media, it dawned on me that the governor was not misquoted. At any rate, up till the time of putting finishing touches to this piece yesterday, the governor has not denied the statement.

    But first, what exactly did Governor Diri say?

    Just about what I told you earlier: the man wants third term for governors to enable them complete their good works. Senator Diri seized the opportunity of his ‘Thank you tour’ to the eight local government areas of the state to make the passionate plea.

    Speaking specifically at the King Koko Square in Nembe, headquarters of the Nembe Local Government Area of the state, before a large crowd during the tour, Diri said he wants the National Assembly lawmakers to consider tinkering with the constitution towards this noble and patriotic objective.

    Hear the governor: “It is not proper to start a project and abandon it for another government. So, some of your demands can be achieved. But I will suggest you talk to Hon. Marie Ebikake, Hon. Fred Agbedi, Hon. Oforji Oboku and Senator Benson Agadaga to tell the National Assembly to tinker with the constitution.

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    “They should tinker with the constitution and consider giving governors third term in office. With that done, I can accomplish some of your demands.”

    Isn’t this good enough a reason for governors to have third term?

    But Nigerians, ever impatient as usual, did not even wait to let the governor finish before taking on him. I wasn’t surprised, though. Our people like throwing away the baby with the bath water. The same thing they did when the then President Olusegun Obasanjo began the third term gambit. The National Assembly at the time also threw away other goodies with third term not necessarily because they did not like the idea, but because they hated the face of the person on whose behalf a case was being made for it. I chose my words carefully. Yes, I said ‘’ they hated the face of the person on whose behalf a case was being made for it’’ because the person at the centre of it all, president Obasanjo, craved for third term like mad and worked assiduously towards it, without opening his mouth.

    In the case of Gov. Diri, there was no pretension about it. I do not know whether he even had such a thing in mind before going to Nembe. What is in the public domain is that the request came as his response to the demand by the people that his government may not be able to complete some of the good works it started due to inadequate time.

    Lest we forget, Senator Diri became governor in February 2020. He won reelection and was sworn in for second term in February, last year. Meaning he should quit, other things being equal, in February 2028. That is less than three years from now.

    The governor gave account of some of his achievements to the people. He told them that by the end of the year, the state should be in a position to provide electricity supply to them.

    “As you are aware, your state government has procured an independent power plant and very soon, we will no longer depend on the existing power supply arrangement. We will soon take delivery of the 60 megawatt gas turbines and the site for the installation is almost completed”, the governor said.

    He added that: “We are rich in gas and by the end of this year; the problem of power supply will be a thing of the past in this state. It is expected to cover Yenagoa, Nembe, Ogbia, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama and parts of Ekeremor local government areas.”

    It would seem to me that Gov. Diri is on a silent revolution in Bayelsa because I have some knowledge (or so I thought until now) of states that are likely to come up with their own power production and Diri’s Bayelsa is nowhere on the list. Isn’t this good enough news?

    I want to suspect third term surreptitiously crept in when the people talked about construction of the Igbeta-Ewoama-Okoroba Road.

    That was when the governor said he was beginning to face time constraints. Even then, he promised to partner federal agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission and South-South Development Commission to facilitate some of the projects.

    So, what is wrong with the governor suggesting that governors’ tenure be extended from the present eight years maximum to, say, 12? Or even 16, if the situation so demands? Are we not all aware that projects are never equal? While some can simply be bought off the shelf and coupled, others take time to come to fruition. Like roads, for instance. Especially the kinds of roads that the governor has in mind. Such laudable projects cannot be completed in three years!

    Gov. Diri would appear to be talking sense when we realise that some governors simply abandon their predecessors’ uncompleted projects, no matter the stage of completion. This is the source of many abandoned projects in the country. Isn’t it better then for the person who began a project to finish it, even if that would take two more terms? Many of our states are yearning for development and tenure extension is one stone that could be used to kill two birds: complete developmental projects as well as check wastage of resources associated with abandoned projects.

    Mind you, the man is making the case only for governors, not all elected officials. And some people are saying some governors won’t go far even if you give them 100 years. I don’t know what that is supposed to mean. Is that to say our governors are not putting on their thinking caps?

    One annoying thing in this matter is that this is a sitting governor talking. He has the experience. Many of those criticising his request for third term have never been local government chairmen. Many cannot even govern their streets.

    Yet they are criticising a man with hands-on experience who has seen it all. I am sure Diri must be speaking for many of the governors even if most of them cannot openly request for what he requested for, not necessarily because they do not like it, but because of its political inappropriateness or possible backlash. I know that if Gov. Diri manages to get this wish through, his state would become a Mecca for appreciative colleagues who lack the courage and patriotism to do what he did.

    At any rate, where were the people now criticising Diri over his tenure extension dream when the father of former Gov. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion of Edo State said his son should be allowed to ‘repeat’ since he failed the first attempt (tenure?) Sunny Edoja summarised the story in a piece titled ‘’Need for continuity in Edo State’’ (The Sun, September 4, 2016):  When Lucky’s father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion  was campaigning for the re-election of his son in 2003, Edo people told him point blank that his son didn’t do well in office but the senior Igbinedion told them in pidgin, Pickin wey no do well for one class must repeat that class  meaning if a child fails in one class, that child must repeat the class; so he wanted his son to be re-elected despite his woeful performance in office. Lucky was re-elected through the usual PDP magic and Edo State was the worse for it.’’ The rest is history.

    Gov. Diri’s case would even appear somewhat different. Igbinedion did not do many projects; so he probably had no abandoned project. For such a person, four years might even be too long. Diri would seem to be a governor with so much in his belly that he thinks eight years are not enough to deliver.

    We must listen to him.

    What is more? He even spoke with such gusto and candour unlike the proponent of third term in our political lexicon who said everything pointing in the direction of tenure extension without saying anything. Only to turn round to say he did not want it and that if he wanted it, he would’ve told God who would also have granted his wish.

    All said, I admire Gov. Diri for his courage and forthrightness. In a country of pretenders, we need to hail people like the governor who say their minds irrespective of whose ox is gored. If a governor is pregnant with projects and he thinks eight years are not enough to deliver all of them safely, what is wrong in asking for more years?

    So, let Bayelsa’s law makers in the National Assembly that the governor mentioned: Ebikake, Agbedi, Oboku and Agadaga set the ball rolling. Their governor is not like Lucky Igbinedion who was bereft of ideas. In Diri’s own case, it is the glut of projects he has that is making him ask for more time. For such hardworking governor, we must oblige him. He should be allowed to deliver naturally, lest he be induced to deliver prematurely.

    I wonder why we are not putting the governor’s progressive proposal in the front burner of national discourse. This is where it rightfully belongs and we must take it there. Otherwise, we should stop complaining that many governors are not doing much. At least we now know why. 

    This is much more so now that state governments are literally awash with cash. More cash. More projects. More time. Balanced equation. Not a bad idea.

    Third term! Third term!!