The Story Of How Gov. Douye Diri Moved The Name Of Bayelsa State From The Hall Of Shame To The Hall Of Fame

WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI 

For many years, Bayelsa State was associated with all forms of negativities.

The worst was the description and designation of Bayelsans as violent, lazy, and unproductive people.

In human existence, tribal and ethnic profiling and stereotypes are not only damaging and destructive, they are also dehumanizing. The duo have ways of affecting our humanity while denying people rights, opportunities, and privileges.

Most often, stereotypes and ethnic profiling are premised on very faulty assumptions and foundations, which is the exact case of Ijaws and Bayelsans in particular.

Beyond the above, at a point, corruption in the civil service rose to the zenith. There was a time stories of corruption in Bayelsa State public service dominated pages of national dailies.

Another negative narrative that portrayed Bayelsa State in very bad light was the issue of armed militancy and cult related activities.

Politics was not left out. The slogan and sermon about difficult terrain became the second anthem in Bayelsa State after the Nigerian National Anthem.

Inter and intra party feuds, deafening darkness that covered the streets of Yenagoa and it’s environ. Harassment, intimidation, maiming, and even killing of perceived opponents was the order of the day.

It got to a point where businesses of perceived opponents were deliberately grounded. Government officials and appointees were not allowed to patronize businesses of perceived opponents, otherwise they were tagged as traitors and Obute people.

Beside the economy that was at the lowest ebb, Bayelsans lost self-esteem and self-confidence. At a point, Bayelsans suddenly developed inferiority complex and even became hopeless. They lost hope, which is the highest currency in the world and became shadows of their old selves.

Overtime, the state gradually slided into the Hall of Shame. No good news was coming out of Bayelsa State despite the abundant human and natural resources and blessings that Almighty God has bestowed on the state and her great people.

The missing link was the absence of people and development-oriented leadership.

However, the coming of Gov. Douye Diri changed everything. It was like a 360° turnaround. His positive disposition worked more than a magic wand. It changed the entire narrative about the state.

His BODY LANGUAGE that hates violence, cultism, disunity, irresponsibility, and unproductivity automatically helped to reshape things.

The moment Gov. Douye Diri assumed his duty as governor, cultists, and other criminal elements knew it was not going to be business as usual.

Besides stopping every form of patronage, the government expressed its dislike and zero tolerance for crime and criminality.

Today, Bayelsa State is the SAFEST STATE in the country.

Instead of competing in crime, Bayelsans are competing in Education and other productive ventures.

Education and intellectualism that were hitherto relegated to the background have taken their rightful places in the state.

Bayelsans have prioritized capacity building. The pursuit of education in Bayelsa State today is very encouraging. The healthy competition in the pursuit of higher education particularly Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) is highly commendable. Almost every household in Bayelsa State has a Ph.D holder.

The above development has made crime and criminality less attractive. Young people are no longer seeing criminal elements as role models.

Gov. Douye Diri is running an all-inclusive government where all Bayelsans, irrespective of political parties or religious inclination, are given equal opportunities.

There is zero tolerance or accommodation for any form of discrimination or segregation. No section of the state is enjoying any special political patronage or development attention above others.

Before now, political seasons were characterized by so much tension and divisive and destructive tendencies. But today, Bayelsans are very united, and they are standing solidly behind Gov. Douye Diri against agents of disunity and destruction in the state.

Bayelsa State is leading many states today in the areas of infrastructure, sports, health, education, workers welfare, etc.

Bayelsa State is no longer in the news for negative reasons, rather, it is one of the fastest growing states in the country.

The influx of businesses even before the powering of the brand New 60-Megawatts Gas Turbine that will provide uninterrupted electricity in Yenagoa and it’s environ has resulted to the shoring up of internally generated revenue (IGR).

Social and night life has improved drastically.

Overtime, multitudes of visitors: investors and tourists are flooding the streets of our great state.

The above is a very positive omen because It is the prayer of every state.

The socio-economic and political impacts of the Nembe-Brass road, Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma-Otuan road, Ofoni-Ekeremor road, the Ekeremor-Agge road and other strategic roads that the ASSURED Prosperity Administration is constructing can not be quantified.

The excellent work at the New Yenagoa City, the 9-Storey New State Secretariat, the 25,000 capacity FIFA Standard Stadium and other signature projects of the ASSURED Prosperity Administration has successfully removed Bayelsa State from the hitherto HALL of SHAME and placed her honourably in the HALL OF FAME among comity of states that are doing very well.

As the state soar higher, may Almighty God continue to bless Gov. Douye Diri and all members of the ASSURED Prosperity Team.

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