Politics
Diri Renders Stewardship As Jonathan, Others Grace Anniversary Celebration
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has rendered his stewardship account at the Ecumenical Center in Yenagoa during a thanksgiving service to mark his fifth year in office celebration.
The Tide reports that the well-attended event had prominent Nigerians, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang and National Assembly members among others.
The event had renowned Ghanaian preacher, Dr. Otabil Mensah, as the guest speaker.
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive, in his remarks, said the state was witnessing transformation with the completion of several impactful projects as well as ongoing newly-awarded ones.
The Tide further reports that Governor Diri listed projects his administration was executing to include three senatorial roads, particularly the Bayelsa Central road inaugurated this year, which he said would get to Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
He also stated that with the support of the federal government, the second phase of the Nembe-Brass road in Eastern Senatorial District would come on stream, while the ongoing first phase would be 90 per cent completed by the end of this year.
On account of the abundant sporting talents in the state, Governor Diri said his administration would be constructing a 25,000-seater FIFA-standard stadium to be flagged-off by Dr Jonathan today, Monday.
He also stated that his administration was addressing the issue of civil servants office accommodation by commencing the building of an iconic nine-storey secretariat complex, just as he said the contractor, Megastar Limited, had already been paid 50 per cent of the project cost.
On education, Governor Diri said there had been a paradigm shift to science and technical education and that government had built and equipped five science and technical colleges across the state, directing the Commissioner for Education to ensure that the two local government areas yet to be covered were completed this year.
On epileptic power supply in the state, the Bayelsa helmsman said it will be a thing of the past when the 60mw gas turbines worth $60 million arrive the state.
“All of these projects run into billions of naira. Of course, the one that will make all of us happier and affects everyone is electricity.
“We’ve agreed with a private company that is supplying us 60mw Gas turbines, big enough to serve not only Yenagoa but the whole of Bayelsa State.
“We’re expecting the gas turbines to arrive Nigeria in the next two months and I can promise you without looking back that by the end of this year, we will have 24 hours independent power supply”, he said.
In his goodwill message, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua, commended the significant development and economic progress achieved by the present administration.
He said the state was diversifying beyond crude oil and gas, which include agriculture, fishery and sports, that are crucial to the state’s prosperity.
The Vice President noted that the commencement of commercial flights at the Bayelsa International Airport was a significant infrastructural development, just as he applauded the governor for his reforms which he said included the governor’s announcement of a minimum wage of N80,000 to workers in the state civil service.
Vice President Shettima also acknowledged the state’s impressive economic statistics with Bayelsa having the ninth highest GDP in Nigeria and the second highest GDP per capital after Lagos State.
In a sermon titled: “Wisdom,” Dr. Otabil Mensah said all over the world, the most deprived, underdeveloped nations were in Africa but it was still the most endowed and spiritually-blessed continent.
Dr. Mensah criticised Africans that pray mostly against fellow humans, saying true wisdom does not destroy but build.
He urged Africans to use wisdom to transform the immense wealth God had deposited in the land.
Dignitaries at the service were Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme, former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and another former Rivers State governor, Chief Rufus Ada-George.
Others were two former Military Administrators of the State, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (Rtd) and Colonel Edor Obi (Rtd) as well as former Acting Governor Werinipere Seibarugu and former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi.
Also present were Senators Sunday Katung, Konbowei Benson, and Benson Agadaga as well as Bayelsa House of Reps members – Dr. Fred Agbedi, Marie Ebikake, Rodney Ambaiowei, and Oforji Oboku.
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, National Chairman of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Boladei Igali, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, King Edmond Daukoru, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and other top government functionaries were also in attendance.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Claiming that elections in the country are typically characterized by vote buying, Mr Nwosu said a repeat of such phenomenon would taint the credibility of the forthcoming gubernatorial poll.
Mr Nwosu is among the 16 governorship candidates listed by INEC in a June 4, 2025 statement to participate in the November 8, 2025 election in Anambra State.
His party, the ADC, will battle it out with other parties to unseat incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Mr Nwosu, in a statement on Saturday, said it was baffling seeing voters openly selling their votes to party agents and other representatives around polling units on election day.
According to him, “such practices not only derail the true will of the people but also reduce elections to an auction, where the state is effectively handed over to the highest bidder.”
Mr Nwosu urged INEC to introduce secure voting cubicles that would safeguard the legitimate rights of voters and uphold the sovereignty of democracy.
“INEC must provide secure voting cubicles to ensure ballots remain private and secret. Currently, many polling areas are too exposed, allowing others to see the voting process. This not only encourages vote buying but also undermines the integrity of the elections.
“Voting must remain secret. Nigeria already has strong electoral laws which, if properly enforced, can deliver outcomes that truly benefit society”, Mr Nwosu said.
He held that the Anambra governorship election was another opportunity for INEC to secure the trust of Nigerians about its commitment to transparency and fairness during polls.
He also noted the role of security agencies in tackling the menace of vote buying on the day of election.
He said, “The success of any political activity depends largely on security, because security is key. While it is not solely INEC’s duty to ensure elections are properly conducted, the Commission must create an enabling environment that allows citizens to participate freely, conduct themselves properly, and exercise their right to vote.”
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the attackers and their sponsors.
“The Labour Party is perplexed by the physical attack on our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, by agents suspected to be working for anti-democratic elements who have tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the leadership of the party from him.
“Few hours ago, a prominent member of a known political family, Ms Precious Oruche, alias ‘Mama P’, accosted Barrister Abure while on a queue at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, boarding a Max Air flight en route to Benin, and attacked the Labour Party’s National Chairman unprovoked.
“The attacker, Madam P, who is also a known content creator, continued the attack all through the duration of the flight, defying all attempts by the Max Air flight attendants to calm her.
“The assault, which attracted a large population of onlookers, continued unabated on disembarkment at the Benin Airport while she continued recording the scene.
“It took the intervention of the security agents on hand to whisk Abure to safety while the attacker was handed over to the police for questioning.
“In one of her films released, the lady, who is a prominent member of the ‘Obidient’ and claimed that she has contacts with the highest police hierarchy, boasted that nothing will happen to her.
“She vowed that she will not stop attacking Abure or any member of the Labour Party executive because, according to her, ‘you have killed Labour Party and you are the reason why Obi is no longer in the Labour Party.’
“The leadership of the Labour Party is completely troubled with this cyber-bullying and the consequences of the action of this political agent on the party. We are by this statement calling on the Inspector General of Police to thoroughly investigate this suicidal aggression against the leadership of the Labour Party and Barrister Julius Abure in particular.
“We sincerely believe that the lady-agent was on an assignment to accomplish the desires of her paymasters. Assault and cyber-bullying are severe crimes under our laws and we think that the Police must fish out her sponsors and cohorts, and bring them to book.
“We are calling on the members of the Labour Party to be calm, even in the face of this unwarranted provocation and wait for the outcome of the investigation on the unprovoked attack against the leadership of the party,” the statement read.
Speaking during the party’s congress in Yola, the state capital, on Saturday, Mr David Lorhenba, the chairman, Adamawa Congress Committee, described the exercise as hitch-free.
He said that a total of 2,656 delegates from 21 local government areas came out and elected 39 officials.
Mr Lorhenba commended the delegates for conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
“The conduct of the congress is very successful, all the delegates come from 21 Local Government Areas and cast their votes peacefully.
“We have a total of 2,656 delegates and we have announced the winners very successfully”, he said.
In his remarks, Alhaji Attahiru Shehu, the outgoing chairman, congratulated the new executives and charged them to continue on what they have already done for the party to remain strong.
According to him, they started as opposition in the state and produced Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri who is serving his second term, opining they “he has done well for the state.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr Madagali thanked the delegates for the confidence they reposed in him.
He promised to run an open door policy in manning the affairs of the party.
“Let us continue the legacy of good governance and prepare ahead for 2027 with focus, discipline and unity.
“To those outside our party, especially the youths and women of Adamawa, we invite you into our party.
“PDP is your home. Our doors are open to all who wish to contribute positively to the development of our state.
“Our party will continue to be a shining example of people-focused on leadership,” he said.
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