State Honours Late Head of State, Jonathan, Ex-MILADs, Boro, Dickson, Others
Former President Dedicates Award to Alamieyeseigha
By Daniel Alabrah
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday night paid tribute to the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, expressing gratitude on behalf of the Ijaw nation for the creation of Bayelsa State on October 1, 1996.
Governor Diri said Gen. Abacha deserved continuous commendation for the gesture, which, he said, freed the Ijaw people from oppression and injustice.
The Bayelsa governor spoke at the Dinner and Awards Night of the Bayelsa at 30 anniversary celebrations, tagged “Celebrating Legacies,” held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
The well-attended grand finale of the four-day celebrations attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; members of the Abacha family, including Alhaji Abba Abacha and Hajia Fatima Gumsu Abacha; National Assembly members; members of the diplomatic community; business moguls; top government officials; and others.
At the event, state honours were presented to 63 recipients.
Top on the list were the late Gen. Abacha, former President Jonathan, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, former military administrators of the state, including the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.), Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni (rtd.), Police Commissioner Habu Daura (rtd.) and Col. Edor Obi (rtd.), as well as the immediate past governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Governor Diri emphasised that mentioning Abacha’s name in his remarks was significant, explaining that the late Head of State might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he was the person who freed them by creating a homogeneous Ijaw state.
He said:
“If at every point in my remarks I keep calling him, it is because of what God used him to do for the Ijaw ethnic nationality. As I said yesterday, General Abacha might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he is the one who freed us from oppression.
“He freed us from injustice and gave a homogeneous state to a people who had been balkanised into various states, making us a minority in some.
“Today is also the 66th Independence Anniversary of our country. So, we are celebrating national independence and, at the same time, celebrating our own state at 30 years.
“We cannot acknowledge and thank General Abacha enough, ably represented here by his own son, Abba Abacha, and his sister. Please take our appreciation and gratitude back home to your mother.”
Bayelsa’s Transformation
Justifying the celebration, Diri said the journey from a total absence of infrastructure to a state with legacy projects, road networks and hope for the future was a testament to the vision of its founding fathers and the grace of God.
Giving a sectoral breakdown, he said that at creation, Bayelsa had no tertiary institution, but today boasts more than five, including universities, polytechnics and a college of education, with more still coming.
He also noted that at inception, the state had only a single-lane Mbiama-Yenagoa Road, but today it has a network of roads, dualised highways and three senatorial roads opening up the state from different directions.
“Do we talk about the healthcare transformation? So much has been done, and we can rightly say that Bayelsa has moved forward and is no longer where it used to be,” Diri stated.
He congratulated the awardees, describing them as part of the Bayelsa legacy.
Jonathan Dedicates Award to Alamieyeseigha
Responding on behalf of the honourees, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan dedicated his award to his late boss and political mentor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who brought him into politics as his deputy governor.
Jonathan further stated that, despite the cynicism of many young people who ask what Bayelsa had to celebrate at 30, the state had made significant progress.
He said:
“Although we have not reached where we are supposed to be, I am happy where we are. I am happy that Bayelsa State was created, and we have gained tremendously. Most people might not know, but we have gained tremendously following the creation of the state.
“Bayelsans will always remain grateful to late Gen. Sani Abacha, who made it possible for Bayelsa to be among the last six states he created.”
He also commended Governor Diri for organising the anniversary and honouring those who laboured for the creation and development of the state.
Other Award Recipients
Among other recipients were individuals who facilitated the creation of the state under the Contribution to Sustenance of Ijaw Existence category; late British-born linguist, Prof. Kay Williamson, under the Promotion of Ijaw Language category; and Olympians Daniel Igali and Blessing Oborududu, as well as former Super Eagles players and coaches Samson Siasia and Finidi George, under the Sports category.
Other illustrious Ijaw sons and daughters honoured were former Ijaw National Congress president, Chief Joshua Fumudoh; musicians, the late King Robert Ebizimor, Inetimi Odon (Timaya) and Timi Dakolo; as well as the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, under the Public Service category.
Those honoured under the Education category included Prof. Ayebaemi Spiff, the late Prof. Lawrence Ekpebu, Prof. Ebiegberi Alagoa, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and Prof. Youpele Beredugo.
The recognition also covered Bayelsa-born businessmen, including Chief Dan Etete, Engr. Gesi Asamaowei, Engr. Preye Berezi, Chief Ken Etete, King Ebitimi Banigo, Dr. Ephraim Faloughi, Dr. Daru Owei and Chief Robert Enogha.
The multiple-award-winning Bayelsa State Cultural Troupe was also honoured, alongside the late former National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi, under the Military category; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, who was a former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, under the Legislature category; foremost nationalist and pioneer editor of the Daily Times newspaper, Ernest Ikoli; teenage chess sensation Deborah Quickpen; and a host of others.
Dignitaries at the Event
Dignitaries present at the event included the governor’s wives, Dr. Gloria Diri and Justice Patience Ama-Diri; Deputy Governor Dr. Peter Akpe and his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe; Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker; members of the House of Assembly; and Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei.
Others included Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri; Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Ebitimi Amgbare; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Bashir Adeniyi; Col. Edor Obi (rtd.); Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo; and other traditional rulers.
Also in attendance were the ambassadors of Germany, Portugal, Italy, Vietnam, Angola, the Czech Republic, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
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