A story was told of a military unit where successive commanders usually sent a group of soldiers on duty to guard an empty walkway that is an outlet.
Even though there was no form of threat by any enemy forces through that outlet, successive commanders kept sending soldiers to do sentry duties at that very spot.
Then, a certain commander was posted to the unit. After the formal handover, including that very outlet where soldiers do daily sentry. He asked initial questions about the outlet, but he never got any satisfactory response. Record only showed that soldiers have been guarding that place for years.
Determined to unravel the mystery behind that duty post, he went to the archives to get details of the first commander in that unit and did a follow-up. He never rested.
After dissipating so many resources on intelligence gathering, he discovered that the outlet was a very bad spot where wild animals usually passed through to attack soldiers in the night. So, the then commander decided to construct a fence to block access to the animals.
However, each time they finish the work and leave the place by the time they come in the morning, it has been knocked down and everything scattered by the wild animals. At a time, it got so frustrating that the commander had to post some soldiers to mount sentry there.
Sadly, the commander was posted out suddenly before the withdrawal of those soldiers. So, when his successor took over, he sent soldiers to guard the place, and they continued without asking questions. It took the intelligence of the proactive commander to unravel the mystery.
The above story can be likened to that of the endless tales about DIFFICULT TERRAIN. Successive administrations at the federal and state levels used the excuse of difficult terrain to delay the construction of the Angiama-Oporoma-Otuan road and bridge, Nembe-Brass road and bridges, Ekeremor-Agge road and others.
Today, Gov. Douye Diri has DEMYSTIFIED the issue of DIFFICULT TERRAIN.
They made us believe that it was too difficult and near impossibility to develop Bayelsa State due to our deltaic environment, but today, Gov. Douye Diri has changed the narrative.
His courage, boldness, strong determination, and passion have made him change the story of Bayelsa State.
It takes only a courageous and passionate leader to do what Gov. Douye Diri is doing in Bayelsa State.
The depth of sandfilling is like sinking a one 1-storey building before constructing the kilometers of those roads.
Before now, Bayelsa State was over 57% riverine, but today, Gov. Douye Diri has constructed roads and bridges that are criss-crossing everywhere in the state. He has successfully linked large parts of the hitherto hinterland to the rest of the state and world in general.
Besides the rapid growth and development that those roads and bridges have brought, they are helping to promote social interactions. Security has improved drastically. Presently, sea piracy has been reduced to the barest minimum in Southern Ijaw and other areas. The cost of transportation has also reduced significantly.
The story of Gov. Douye Diri is a clear testament of the rule of the righteous. The Bible says that when the righteous rule, the people rejoice.
May God continue to bless Gov. Douye Diri for his good works. We also thank Bayelsans for their love, support and great solidarity to the ASSURED Prosperity Administration.
– Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli
Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Media and Public Affairs.