Bayelsa Mourns Four NAF Crash Victims, Diri Urges Unity Ahead Of 2027 Politics
The Bayelsa State Government has expressed grief over the death of four Bayelsans among the 25 personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who died in the ill-fated aircraft crash in Ondo State on Monday.
The state Executive Council observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims during its 198th meeting, presided over by Governor Douye Diri at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday.
The four Bayelsans were identified as Flight Lieutenant Tarila Lazarus from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area; Sergeant Izibenikien Samuel from Yenagoa; Sergeant Ebimobowei Charles Alafuka from Ekeremor; and Godstime Tarabina from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
Governor Diri expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, saying the development had affected the state and its people.
He recalled that he had earlier issued a condolence message to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of the Air Staff and the families of the deceased before the identities of the Bayelsa victims were officially released.
The governor said, in line with the directive of the President, flags across the state were flying at half-mast, adding that the state government would work with relevant authorities to explore measures to support and alleviate the pain of the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, Diri commended Bayelsans for their impressive participation in activities marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of the state.
He said the massive turnout reflected the people’s love for Bayelsa and their commitment to the continued development of the state.
According to him, the anniversary was not a political party affair but an opportunity for Bayelsans to reflect on the journey of the state, assess its current position and collectively envision its future.
Diri commended the anniversary planning committee led by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, as well as government officials, citizens, diplomats, federal agencies and other stakeholders whose contributions made the celebrations successful.
He urged Bayelsans to sustain the spirit of unity, love and togetherness displayed during the anniversary, stressing that the state could only achieve meaningful development when its people worked collectively.
Speaking on the emerging political season, the governor appealed to politicians and their supporters to embrace issue-based and civil campaigns, warning against insults, character assassination and inflammatory rhetoric.
He urged political actors to focus their campaigns on their records, policies and plans for the people, rather than allowing political differences to destroy longstanding relationships among Bayelsans.
“Politics will come and go, but we will still remain the same brothers and sisters. Our communities will not be taken away because of APC, PDP, Labour or other parties,” he said.
Diri also disclosed that his administration was working towards developing short- and long-term development plans for the state before the expiration of his tenure.
He said the plans would provide a framework for continuity and guide successive administrations in sustaining development initiatives across the state.
The governor maintained that development should not be tied to a particular administration, but should be treated as a collective responsibility anchored on deliberate and long-term planning.
At the meeting, Governor Diri also received two separate awards in recognition of his administration’s contributions to the legal profession and the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN, presented an award from the Law Officers’ Institution of Nigeria, recognising the governor’s contribution to the welfare of state counsel and inducting him into the Hall of Fame of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Ebieri Jones, presented an MSME award recognising Diri as an “MSME Development Champion and Friendly Governor” following the successful hosting of the annual Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) conference in Bayelsa.
Responding to the recognitions, Governor Diri said the awards would further motivate his administration to do more for the people, noting that appreciation from stakeholders remained an encouragement to the government.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a more united and economically vibrant Bayelsa while ensuring that development efforts are sustained beyond the tenure of any individual administration.
