Gov Douye Diri: The Jinx Of Difficult Terrain And The Story Of Iron Bridge 

WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI 

During the various London Conferences at Lancaster House before the independence of Nigeria, High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, who represented tribes and ethnic groups in the geographic Niger Delta, argued that the region wanted to exist independently. It never wanted to be part of Nigeria.

Dappa-Biriye and majority of Niger Deltans believe that the Niger Delta, like other deltas in the world, needed special attention in order to develop rapidly.

The Niger Delta and Bayelsa State, in particular, is unique because it is the point where rivers Niger and Benue, other rivers, creeks, and tributaries, empty their alluvial flows into the ocean that connects Gulf of Guinea and other areas.

So, since the independence of Nigeria in 1960, successive administrations both at the federal, old Rivers State and in present day Bayelsa State leveraged on the story about DIFFICULT TERRAIN. They used it as excuses to weaponize gross underdevelopment of the area.

But the shocking fact is that Lagos has a more difficult terrain, couple with worsened threats of ocean surge. Yet, it boast of some of the best roads, bridges including the famous Third Main Land bridge, houses and other basic social amenities.

The above gives credence to the common saying that “the difference between Government Reserved/Residential Area (GRA) and Slump is development”.

Many years ago, many Bayelsans, especially those in Riverine areas, were made to believe that bridges and roads were impossibilities. They were made to believe that the only way to access those areas almost to eternity was through rivers.

Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, the First Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, struggled to unrival the mystery through the intervention of the federal government under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The outcome of the Alamieyeseigha adventure was the connection of Amassoma and the Wilberforce Island to the rest part of the world by road.

When you fly across the wilberforce island on air, you will see the very beautiful area with a lovely topography.

Today, millions of Naira enters Amassoma and it’s environ daily. Since the construction of the Yenagoa-Tombia-Amassoma road and bridge, the area has experienced unimaginable expansion. The socio-economic impacts of that road can not be quantified.

The Ogbia-Nembe-Brass road, Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma-Otuan road, and the Sagbama-Ekeremor road were the first roads that were conceived in the area that is now known as Bayelsa State.

The Yenegwe-Okarki-Ogbia-Nembe-Brass road and the Yenagoa-Oporoma road in particular were conceptualized in the 1960s as federal government roads.

Successive administrations used them as campaign slogans and bargaining chips.

The Henry Seriake Dickson administration ventured into the Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma-Otuan road but ended at Anyama-Ijaw before it got close to the very intimidating 630 meters long Angiama-Oporoma Bridge. The same way, it took the Sagbama-Ekeremor road to Ofoni.

When Gov. Douye Diri announced to Bayelsans about the quest of the ASSURED Prosperity Administration to link Oporoma-Otuan and other communities in Southern Ijaw local government area by road, he was seen and even described as a dreamer.

The worst came after the award of the contract to CCECC when they started building Iron Bridge instead of well piled Concrete Bridge.

Critics of the government traveled from Yenagoa and other areas to Angiama waterfront just to take photographs of the Iron Bridge that they uploaded on different social media platforms.

There were no unprintable names that Gov. Douye Diri was not called. Some even described it as a joke and political deception that was taken too far.

In the process, some of us struggled very hard to explain that the Iron Bridge, despite its solid and quality nature, was a temporary measure to enable the construction company to transport and transfer their heavy duty equipments across the big River Nun.

But as sound, logical, and convincing as it was, the pessimists saw us as hypocrites and sycophants.

Cheeringly, in less than 4years, Gov. Douye Diri has successfully cleared the doubts of the doubting Thomases.

Vehicles of any kind, type or make are now driving to Angiama, Otuan, Oporoma and other communities in Southern Ijaw LGA.

Gov. Douye Diri is also constructing another road from Angiama to Eneware and others.

But i am sad that Bayelsans particularly the critics of the ASSURED Prosperity Administration, are not traveling from Yenagoa and others to go and take photograph of the verified successfully completed single longest Bridge in the Niger Delta that measures 630 meters.

They went there when they had to spend thousands of Naira to get to the Angiama waterfront because they had to cross two bridges then that were under construction.

Today, people spend insignificant amounts to get to Angiama, Otuan, Oporoma and other communities due to the super tarred road that is very smooth to drive.

That Bridge is also a National and Global Tourist site because it is the longest Bridge in the geographic Niger Delta region.

The cost of that Bridge alone can build between 5 to 7 flyover in Yenagoa.

The Nembe-Brass road is also advancing so much. We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appreciating the good works of Gov. Douye Diri and accepting to handle the second phase of that very strategic road.

So besides thanking Gov. Douye Diri for clearing the doubts of naysayers about the historic “Iron Bridge”, I commend His Excellency in a very special way for breaking the jinx of difficult terrain. Today, the words: Core Ijaw and Difficult Terrain have been erased in Bayelsa State courtesy of a visionary leader who has remained as a symbol of Unity, Peace, Security and rapid Growth and Development.

In a matter of weeks and perhaps few months from now, Bayelsa State will celebrate another groundbreaking Record in the history of Nigeria. Since the inception of our contemporary democracy, no state government has built and successfully completed an independent power project even with the designation of power generation, transmission and distribution in the Concurrent List of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

The so much talked about power project in Abia State is a private initiative. But in the next few weeks, Bayelsa State will commission the state owned 60-Megawatts GAS TURBINE that will provide uninterrupted electricity.

Electricity is a general problem in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, the Presidency had to spend #10Billion to acquire Solar Panels and other sources of energy at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Nigerians including Bayelsans spend so much fortune on fuel, diesel, solar panels and other alternative sources of power.

Happily here in Bayelsa State, we are counting weeks and few months to the end of deafening darkness. Most Bayelsans can remember the circumstances that made our ever listening, people and development-oriented Governor to embark on the independent power project.

Moving forward, I wish to join multitudes of Bayelsans who commend, appreciate and celebrate the great works of Gov. Douye Diri to shower special encomium on His Excellency for his unprecedented achievements. I also pray that he will finish very strong.

– HON. WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI
Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Media and Public Affairs.