Diri: Abacha’s Creation of Bayelsa Freed Ijaw From Oppression

YENAGOA — Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, has credited the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996 with giving the Ijaw people a homogeneous political entity, saying the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, would continue to be appreciated for the decision.

Diri made the remarks on Thursday night at the Dinner and Awards Night marking the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa, held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa. The event, tagged “Celebrating Legacies,” was the grand finale of a four-day anniversary programme.

The governor said Abacha’s role in creating Bayelsa on Oct. 1, 1996, was particularly significant to the Ijaw people, who, according to him, had previously been divided among different states.

“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 homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states, and making us minority in some,” Diri said.

Diri said Bayelsa’s three decades had also provided an opportunity to assess the state’s development from limited infrastructure at creation to its present network of roads and institutions. He said the state had no tertiary institution at inception but now had more than five, including universities, polytechnics and a college of education.

He added that Bayelsa had progressed from a single-lane Mbiama-Yenagoa road to a network of roads, dualised highways and three senatorial roads, while also recording what he described as significant improvements in healthcare. “So much has been done, and we can rightly say that Bayelsa had moved forward and no longer where it used to be,” he said.

At the ceremony, the state presented honours to 63 recipients, including the late Abacha, former President Goodluck Jonathan, the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and former military administrators of the state, including the late Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, Navy Capt. Phillip Ayeni, retired Police Commissioner Habu Daura and retired Col. Edor Obi. Immediate past Governor Seriake Dickson was also honoured.

Responding on behalf of the honourees, former President Goodluck Jonathan dedicated his award to his late political mentor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who brought him into government as deputy governor.

Jonathan said Bayelsa had made significant progress since its creation, although the state had yet to reach its desired level of development.

“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,” Jonathan said.

He also expressed appreciation to Abacha for creating Bayelsa among the six states established in 1996, saying, “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.”

Other honourees included late British-born linguist Prof. Kay Williamson for promoting the Ijaw language; Olympians Daniel Igali and Blessing Oborududu; former Super Eagles players and coaches Samson Siasia and Finidi George; musicians King Robert Ebizimor, Timaya and Timi Dakolo; and former Head of Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack.

The recognition also covered academics including Prof. Ayebaemi Spiff, late Prof. Lawrence Ekpebu, Prof. Ebiegberi Alagoa, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and Prof. Youpele Beredugo; 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; and the Bayelsa State Cultural Troupe.

Others recognised included the late former National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri; pioneer editor of the Daily Times, Ernest Ikoli; and teenage chess player Deborah Quickpen, among others.

The ceremony was attended by Abacha’s children, Alhaji Abba Abacha and Hajia Fatima Gumsu Abacha; Dame Patience Jonathan; members of the National Assembly; diplomats; business leaders; traditional rulers and senior government officials.

Also present were Deputy Governor Dr. Peter Akpe; his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe; Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, represented by the Deputy Speaker; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei; NDDC Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; Niger Delta Basin Development Authority Managing Director Ebitimi Amgbare; Comptroller-General of Customs Alhaji Bashir Adeniyi; 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 in attendance.