Douye Diri came to the limelight after his election as the pioneer Organizing Secretary of the apex socio-cultural organization in Ijaw Nation, the most revered Ijaw National Congress (INC).
At the inception of our contemporary democracy, he was appointed into several offices during the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha administration, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration and that of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, respectively.
His humility, unassuming nature, trustworthiness, team spirit, dedication and positive attitude, and commitment to duties made him the beautiful bride of successive administrations.
The positive values he usually added to every system and positions assigned to him made him an invaluable asset.
In the history of Nigeria or Bayelsa State politics, no individual can claim to be self-made, the same way, no single state/country can exist alone in isolation in today’s globalized world.
For instance, internal and external forces (leaders) made Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, the same with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Timipre Sylva CON, and Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
Among the former Governors of Bayelsa State, none of them can claim that he made himself Governor. As a matter of fact, it was the resources of Bayelsa State that were used to sponsor their respective elections.
It is also a generally known fact that none of them was really wealthy. They were all living their average lives before their emergence as Governors at the different times of their governance.
Since the beginning of the present fourth republic of Nigeria’s democracy, the only time Bayelsans have mobilized massively against a civil government in the state was in 2019.
That was the first time in history where Bayelsans vehemently the choice of the then outgoing administration.
Bayelsans were ready to vote for any alternative against the candidate of the then Restoration administration.
It was so because besides the highhandedness of the administration that inflicted unimaginable pains on the people, the issue of half salary for civil servants in a civil service state, the issue of insecurity was at it’s apex.
Some of the atrocities then could only be equated to things that happened in Uganda under Field Marshal Idi Amin, Josef Stalin of the defunct Soviet Union and perhaps the activities of Adolf Hitler who at a time wanted humanity to worship him the same Angels worship God in heaven.
Senator Douye Diri, who is like water, never had an enemy with anybody. The only thing people complained about was about stinginess, and it was so because he never had. He gave to people the little he had.
Bayelsans who voted against PDP during the 2019 Governorship election never hated Senator Douye Diri, they only protested against the system that brought him.
That was how the then system destroyed the political career of Senator Douye Diri.
Almighty God never wanted any individual or group of persons to share his glory in the life of his servant, Douye Diri.
After the end of the political career of the old Douye Diri and the subsequent emptying of Bayelsa State treasury, Almighty God then stepped in and proved Himself.
The Supreme Court judgement of 13th February, 2020 opened a new chapter in the political history of the state.
Great proof of God’s presence was the way and manner Chief David Lyon and Very Distinguished Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo embraced the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement and Gov. Douye Diri.
In human eyes and political analysis, Chief David Lyon and Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo can be described as the greatest sufferers and victims of the outcome of the 2020 Supreme Court judgement but how come that both of them are the highest supporters of Gov. Douye Diri today?
Chief David Lyon and Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo mobilized their multitudes of supporters to ensure the reelection of Gov. Douye Diri in 2023.
The colourful way and manner Chief David Lyon and Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo and other APC leaders mobilized to the Inauguration of Gov. Douye Diri and his Deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo Ph.D. shut the mouths of evil people and made tongues of negative people to wag.
Those who thought that Gov. Douye Diri will fail so that they will leverage on the failure to form heroes are now overwhelmed by his good works and the unimaginable love and solidarity support he enjoys amongst Bayelsans and other Nigerians.
Gov. Douye Diri’s signature projects like the Nembe-Brass road, Ekeremor-Agge road, Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma-Otuan road, the New Yenagoa City, Angiama-Enewari road, the 100-Megawatts Brand New Gas Turbine, the 30,000 capacity FIFA Standard Stadium, the 2nd & 3rd phases of Glory Drive and the Imgbi Bridge, the 9-Storey New State Secretariat, Education House, Information House, the Ernest Ikoli Media Complex, over 3000 Rigid Pavement Concret roads in our towns and villages, the New Campus of Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) at Sampou, etc.
Gov. Douye Diri is celebrated among the best performing governors in the present dispensation.
His achievements are so much that majority of Bayelsans have copied the song of the women of Jerusalem, “Saul killed thousands, while David killed tens of thousands”.
Gov. Douye Diri is a grateful heart. He does not forget his benefactors, especially his Chief Benefactors, who are the great people of Bayelsa State who voted overwhelming for him during his second tenure.
Almighty God has used Gov. Douye Diri to change the story of Bayelsa State and Bayelsans.
Beyond the success stories in peace building, security, road infrastructure, education, health and sports, welfare and well-being of civil servants and others, he his good works have erased the negative stereotype and profiling as violent, lazy and unproductive people.
His Industrial Revolution agenda that propelled the Nembe-Brass road, Ekeremor-Agge, Angiama-Oporoma-Otuan and others are already yielding positive results.
Social and Night life has improved significantly in the state.
Today, no right thinking person can describe Yenagoa as the “FOREST CAPITAL” because of the significant changes that have taken place coupled with uninterrupted electricity.
But in all, we give God the glory.
So, as they conspire, Almighty God has already decreed, “They will come out against Gov. Douye Diri in one way and flee before him in seven ways” (Deuteronomy 28:7).
– Chief (Hon.) Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli JP
Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Media and Public Affairs.