By Robinson Erebi
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!As Bayelsans, we must acknowledge the progress made by Governor Douye Diri in his first tenure. Despite this, the opposition parties are attempting to unseat him by bringing up old files of projects initiated by past governors. It is clear that their goal is to win the election, not to improve the state.
It is important to remember that the President has never interfered with Governorship elections in Bayelsa State, and all developments in the state are ascribed to PDP. Governor Douye Diri is completing projects and contracts abandoned by his predecessors, like Sen. Henry Seriake Dickson and Chief Timipre Sylva from 2012 – 2019, which is why it is crucial to support him for a second tenure.
There’s no gainsaying the fact that these hitherto abandoned projects, but presently being completed or on-going, such as the “Glory Drive Road,” “Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma Road and Bridge,” “Nembe-Brass Road and Bridges,” “Sagbama Ekeremor Road,” and “Dualization of Yenagoa-Tombia-Amassoma Road,” are vital to the economic and social prosperity of Bayelsans in rural communities, regardless of political affiliations.
We’re not talking workers welfare, plus payment of long outstanding pensions and gratuities to pensioners or death benefits to the next of kins for those that died in service.
The propaganda machines of those vying to replace the incumbent are churning out messages every passing day that Sen. Diri is not developing the capital city of Yenagoa. However, they also agree that the Governor is doing well in rural development. They forget that all past administrations had focused their development in Yenagoa metropolis.
The result of focusing development in Yenagoa for about 20 years is that the city is now over-crowded due to urban drift from rural communities with access roads or electricity. Such vile propaganda is not good for Bayelsa politics because we are a unique people in Nigeria. The Governor resides in Yenagoa capital and is not oblivious to its infrastructural developments, which may be his next policy thrust, especially in the area of link roads and urban transportation. The lack of adequate road network has put our transport system in the hands of tricycle riders, popularly called “Keke” in local parlance, instead of buses and taxis. The Bayelsa International Airport should also be better utilized to promote the transport system in the State.
The lack of link roads between communities that make up the city and poor housing by private individuals and home-based landlords has made some parts of Yenagoa an urban eyesore. His Excellency may need to muster extra political will to demolish houses and build roads to upgrade the urban development and aesthetics of Yenagoa Capital Development Area, which extends to Ikibiri, Ikolo, Famgbe, Yenaka, and other communities along the River Nun, all in Yenagoa Local Government Area. This will not only enhance the beauty of the city but also improve the living standards of its inhabitants.
Governor Douye Diri’s policy of continuity of abandoned projects initiated by previous administrations is the essence of good governance and commitment to progress. If all projects on the Prosperity Agenda are completed in the next four years, including the Tower Hotel, Bayelsa would be better placed in the comity of States in Nigeria.
Therefore, it is crucial not to obstruct Governor Douye Diri’s second tenure through any means or guise. His ultimate goal is to honestly clear up Bayelsa’s junk yard of abandoned projects and complete them to elevate the state. This requires the unalloyed support of all Bayelsans and Nigerians residing in Bayelsa for our common good.
As Ijaw men and women, we must unite without sentiments and refrain from resorting to party politics. We have done this before and can do it again. We must avoid vile propaganda that seeks to divide us and promote political hate by outrightly condemning past or present leaders. We must remember that all leadership and power come from God above all things.
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