2027: Diri’s Aide Okays Bayelsa’s Stance On Constitution Review …Touts Governor’s Infrastructure Projects, Loyalty 

Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Inter-Party Affairs, Dr. Jackson Ebi Suokiri, has said the State’s stance on the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) was apt.

Suokiri, who spoke with newsmen in Yenagoa on Tuesday, also called on citizens of the state and all people of good will to partner the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and other stakeholders in actualizing the state’s position during her presentation to the South-South zone A of the House of Representatives Committee on the review of the constitution which held recently in Yenagoa, the State capital.

The Tide gathered that the Bayelsa State Government had requested for the creation of 25 new Local Government Areas in addition to the already existing eight old ones in the State, and the operationalization of fiscal federalism, amongst others.

The South-South Zone A of the House Committee on the Constitution Review, The Tide learnt, comprises Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States.

The Governor’s Aide reiterated that the state has for long been shortchanged in the scheme of things at the national level due to its limited number of Local Government Areas, especially at the monthly Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting which holds at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Finance and related fiscal bodies in Abuja, the Federal capital territory.

He touted the governor’s infrastructure projects, noting that in the political history of the state no administration has executed the magnitude of projects Governor Diri has to his credit.

The Special Adviser, who also bared his mind on his functions as Inter-Party Aide, expressed his loyalty to the State Chief Executive, describing him as a pragmatic and uncommon leader.

He reiterated his continuous loyalty to the governor as a member of his political desk.

“Bayelsa State is overdue to have more Local Government Areas. How can we have only eight LGAs when states we’re bigger than in terms of geographic size and others have more LGAs.

“The presentation of the state during the Constitution Review public hearing was apt. And as an Aide to a Governor who is doing very well, I align myself totally with the presentation.

“Some people have queried why the State didn’t ask for the creation of yet another state out of the current Bayelsa. But I want to say with all humility that asking for the creation of more LGAs and fiscal federalism is the best option for now”, he said.

“Governor Diri”, he continued, “understands the problems facing us as a State. In terms of infrastructure and in every ramifications he has outperformed our expectations as a people. All he needs now is our continuous support and loyalty as a team and as citizens.

“Remember we currently have only eight LGAs, and so for me, I think the way forward was for all stakeholders, and indeed Bayelsans in general, to rally round the governor on the position paper presented by the State through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.”

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa