Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as the leader who “freed” the Ijaw people from oppression and injustice by creating Bayelsa State on October 1, 1996.
Governor Diri spoke on Thursday night at the Dinner and Awards Night marking the Bayelsa at 30 anniversary, where he paid tribute to Abacha and other figures who contributed to the creation and development of the state.
Key Highlights
- Gov Diri says Gen. Sani Abacha played a significant role in the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996.
- Diri describes Bayelsa’s creation as a liberation of the Ijaw people from political marginalisation.
- Former President Goodluck Jonathan and 62 other individuals and organisations received state honours.
- Jonathan dedicates his award to his late political mentor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
- Diri highlights Bayelsa’s growth in education, roads and healthcare over 30 years.
- The Bayelsa at 30 celebrations attracted political leaders, diplomats, traditional rulers and business figures.
The event, tagged “Celebrating Legacies,” was held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
The well-attended grand finale of the four-day anniversary attracted former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, members of the Abacha family, including Alhaji Abba Abacha and Alhaja Fatima Gumsu Abacha, National Assembly members, diplomats, business leaders and senior government officials.
A total of 63 individuals and organisations received state honours at the event.
Among the leading honourees were the late General Sani Abacha, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and former military administrators of the state.
Others included the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni, Police Commissioner Habu Daura, Col. Edor Obi and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Diri Pays Tribute to Abacha
Governor Diri said repeatedly mentioning Abacha in his remarks was deliberate because of the role he attributed to the late military ruler in the creation of Bayelsa State.
According to Diri, Abacha might be viewed differently by Nigerians, but Bayelsans associate him with the creation of a homogeneous Ijaw state.
“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 noted that October 1 was also Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, saying Bayelsans were simultaneously celebrating national independence and the 30th anniversary of the creation of their state.
He expressed appreciation to members of Abacha’s family who attended the ceremony and asked them to convey the state’s gratitude to their mother.
Diri Highlights Bayelsa’s Development
Justifying the anniversary celebrations, Diri said Bayelsa had moved from a state with limited infrastructure at creation to one with major projects, road networks and expanded opportunities.
He said the state had no tertiary institution when it was created but now had more than five institutions, including universities, polytechnics and a college of education.
Diri also highlighted the expansion of the state’s road network.
According to him, Bayelsa had inherited a single-lane Mbiama-Yenagoa road but now had several roads, dualised highways and three senatorial roads connecting different parts of the state.
“Do we talk about the healthcare transformation? So much has been done, and we can rightly say that Bayelsa had moved forward and no longer where it used to be,” Diri said.
He congratulated the award recipients and described them as part of the state’s legacy.
Jonathan Honours Alamieyeseigha
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 politics as his deputy governor.
Jonathan said Bayelsa had made significant progress since its creation despite questions from some young people about what the state had achieved in 30 years.
“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 expressed gratitude to Abacha for creating Bayelsa as one of the six states established during his administration.
Jonathan also commended Governor Diri for organising the anniversary and recognising individuals who contributed to the creation and development of the state.
Other Bayelsa Award Recipients
Other recipients included individuals and organisations recognised for their contributions to the survival and development of the Ijaw people.
They included late British-born linguist, Prof. Kay Williamson, who was honoured in the Promotion of Ijaw Language category.
Olympians Daniel Igali and Blessing Oborududu, alongside former Super Eagles players and coaches Samson Siasia and Finidi George, were recognised in the Sports category.
Other Ijaw personalities honoured included former Ijaw National Congress president, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, musicians King Robert Ebizimor, Inetimi Odon, popularly known as Timaya, and Timi Dakolo.
The immediate past Head of Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, was recognised in the Public Service category.
In Education, the honourees included Prof. Ayebaemi Spiff, late Prof. Lawrence Ekpebu, Prof. Ebiegberi Alagoa, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and Prof. Youpele Beredugo.
Bayelsa-born businessmen recognised included 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.
The multiple-award-winning Bayelsa State Cultural Troupe was also honoured.
Other recipients included the late former National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, and foremost nationalist and pioneer editor of the Daily Times Newspaper, Ernest Ikoli.
Teenage chess player Deborah Quickpen and several other personalities were also recognised.
Dignitaries at the event included the governor’s wives, Dr. Gloria Diri and Justice Patience Ama-Diri, Deputy Governor Dr. Peter Akpe and his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe.
Also present were the 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, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei.
Other dignitaries 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, Col. Edor Obi, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, and other traditional rulers.
Ambassadors of Germany, Portugal, Italy, Vietnam, Angola, Czech Republic, and São Tomé and Principe also attended the event. For more updates, follow us on X.
