Governor Douye Diri has assured Bayelsans not to fret as he is sure to deliver within the limits of available resources, on his mandate as governor of the oil-rich state.
The governor gave this assurance on a state-wide broadcast on October 1, marking the 26th Anniversary of Bayelsa State creation and Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day Celebration.
Governor Diri appreciated Bayelsans for the overwhelming support and confidence towards his administration in their two years and eight months in office, as he called for a shared prosperity with the people in other to take the state to a higher pedestal of developments.
The Bayelsa State helmsman noted that without the support of the people through open and fair criticisms and contributions to governance, the state would be at a stalemate and as such, his government is open to more suggestions from the citizenry o help place Bayelsa ahead in the comity of states.
“Let me thank all Bayelsans and the people of goodwill for their prayers for the well-being of this government. I wish you a joyous twin anniversary,” Diri stated in the broadcast.
The governor recalled the happiness that greeted the creation of Bayelsa State as the sole homogenous Ijaw state since October 1, 1996, and charged all indigenes and residents to work assiduously with the government to achieve a shared prosperity citing numerous road projects across the three senatorial districts which, are opening up the state to development by filling up the infrastructure deficit,as example.
“It was my honour to be part of what came to be known as the Ijaw Struggle and I recall with nostalgia the herculean efforts, courageous steps, unity of purpose and lofty dreams of the Bayelsa founding fathers. If we are to succeed in bringing about the shared prosperity envisioned, we must be deliberate in embracing all shades of opinion and criticism”, he added.
Governor Diri charged all to toe the path of peaceful coexistence especially, the political class, as campaigns for next year’s generally elections kick off, as he advocated for a paradigm shift from hate speeches of acrimony to one of love, unity and togetherness as his administration has been on the vanguard for peace and harmony.
Said he, “Let brotherly love and the greater good be what the 2023 Elections must be about. It must be a conversation about ballots not bullets. The lives of our citizens should not be sacrificed on the altar of the ambition of selfish politicians.” Governor Diri charged.
Acknowledging that Bayelsa at 26 is still a work-in-progress, Governor Diri, adjudged his administration as being on the right track with a renewed zeal to serve the people to take Bayelsa to her promise land”, he concluded.
