Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umoh Eno, on Saturday described his colleague in Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri, as a pragmatic leader primed to change the narrative in Bayelsa State.
Gov. Eno was in Bayelsa State as part of activities marking the 5th anniversary of Gov. Diri’s administration.
He inaugurated Road Two, a dual carriageway in the New Yenagoa City.
Gov. Umo paid glowing tributes to his Bayelsa counterpart, saying that it took political will to execute and complete quality projects in a marshy terrain such as Bayelsa’s.
He described Gov. Diri as a pragmatic leader, committed to changing the developmental narrative of his state.
The Akwa Ibom governor, noted that what Gov. Diri was doing in Bayelsa is consistent with his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) colleagues in the South-South in particular, and the party’s governors in other zones of the country.
“When one looks at the video and the pictures and see how this place was, you will know that it will only take a daring governor and a committed government, to do what we have seen here.
“I believe by the time you leave office, Bayelsans would be proud to have supported a pragmatic leader.
“If you continue to support your governor the way you have been doing, you will encourage him to do more. Your support to the government is overwhelming.”
Governor Douye Diri said his commitment to execute projects was to show that the state’s terrain was a blessing, rather than a curse.
He restated his call for increased allocation to enable the state develop, alongside other states in the country.
Gov. Diri appreciated his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, for the solidarity, saying both states have a long-standing relationship.
“We have come a long way as brothers in this same terrain, which some see as a curse. But, we like to prove that this terrain is not a curse. Rather, it is a blessing to the people and to our region.
Read also: Speaker Abbas, Gov. Mutfwang applaud Diri’s vision for Bayelsa, inaugurate projects
“That is why, we are seeing in this area what would have been considered an impossibility being made possible for the rest of Nigeria to see. Give us our due allocation, so that this place will develop alongside the other parts of Nigeria.”
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, explained that the road and its spur was a 2.1km dual carriageway of 7.3 meters width on either side and 1.3m shoulders on both sides of the driveway.
He explained that the road creates access to the new commissioners and legislators quarters, and would accelerate development of residential buildings and add to the aesthetic value of the state capital.
Teibowei further stated that the New Yenagoa City, was conceived by the immediate past administration of Senator Seriake Dickson.
