Abacha Freed Ijaw People From Oppression With Creation Of Bayelsa — Diri
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has paid tribute to the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, for creating Bayelsa State on October 1, 1996, describing the decision as a historic step that freed the Ijaw people from oppression and injustice.
Diri spoke on Thursday night at the Dinner and Awards Night held as part of the Bayelsa at 30 anniversary celebrations, tagged “Celebrating Legacies,” at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor said Abacha deserved continuous commendation from the Ijaw people for creating a homogeneous Ijaw state out of areas that had previously been divided among different states.
According to him, the late military ruler might mean different things to different people, but his legacy in relation to Bayelsa remained significant.
“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,” Diri said.
“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 homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states, and making us minority in some.”
Diri, who noted that October 1 also marked Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, said Bayelsans had every reason to celebrate the progress recorded by the state in its 30 years of existence.
He expressed appreciation to members of the Abacha family who attended the event, including Alhaji Abba Abacha and Hajia Fatima Gumsu Abacha.
“Today is also the 66th independence anniversary of our country. So, we are celebrating the 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,” the governor stated.
Speaking on Bayelsa’s development since its creation, Diri said the state had progressed from having virtually no infrastructure to recording significant achievements in education, roads and healthcare.
He said Bayelsa had no tertiary institution at its creation but now had more than five institutions, including universities, polytechnics and a college of education.
The governor also recalled that the state initially had only the single-lane Mbiama-Yenagoa road, noting that it now had an expanding network of roads, dualised highways and three senatorial roads connecting different parts of the state.
On healthcare, Diri said the sector had witnessed considerable transformation, stressing that Bayelsa had moved forward from where it was at creation.
The governor also congratulated the 63 recipients of the state’s anniversary honours, describing them as part of the legacies of Bayelsa.
Responding on behalf of the honourees, former President Goodluck Jonathan dedicated his award to his late political mentor and former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who appointed him as deputy governor.
Jonathan said that although some young people questioned what Bayelsa had achieved in 30 years, the state had made significant progress since its creation.
“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,” he said.
Jonathan also expressed gratitude to the late Abacha for making Bayelsa one of the six states created during his administration, while commending Governor Diri for organising the anniversary and recognising individuals who contributed to the creation and development of the state.
Among those honoured were the late General Sani Abacha, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, former military administrators of Bayelsa, including the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni, Police Commissioner Habu Daura and Colonel Edor Obi, as well as former Governor Seriake Dickson.
Other award recipients included individuals who contributed to the sustenance of Ijaw existence, while late British-born linguist, Professor Kay Williamson, was recognised in the promotion of Ijaw language category.
In sports, Olympic champions Daniel Igali and Blessing Oborududu, as well as former Super Eagles players and coaches Samson Siasia and Finidi George, were honoured.
Other prominent Ijaw sons and daughters recognised included former Ijaw National Congress president, Chief Joshua Fumudoh; musicians the late King Robert Ebizimor, Inetimi Odon, popularly known as Timaya, and Timi Dakolo; and former Head of Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack.
Those recognised in education included Professor Ayebaemi Spiff, the late Professor Lawrence Ekpebu, Professor Ebiegberi Alagoa, Professor Dimie Ogoina and Professor Youpele Beredugo.
Bayelsa-born businessmen honoured included Chief Dan Etete, Engineer Gesi Asamaowei, Engineer 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, General Owoeye Azazi; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr Heineken Lokpobiri; nationalist and pioneer editor of the Daily Times, Ernest Ikoli; and teenage chess sensation Deborah Quickpen.
The event attracted prominent dignitaries, including members of the National Assembly, the diplomatic community, traditional rulers, business leaders and senior government officials.
Those in attendance included the wives of the governor, 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, represented by the Deputy Speaker; members of the House of Assembly; and Secretary to the State Government, Professor 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; Colonel Edor Obi (rtd); Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo; and other traditional rulers.
Ambassadors of Germany, Portugal, Italy, Vietnam, Angola, the Czech Republic, and São Tomé and Príncipe were also present at the ceremony.
