Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has described the creation of Bayelsa State by the late military head of state, General Sani Abacha, as a historic intervention that liberated the Ijaw people from what he described as years of oppression and injustice.
Diri spoke on Thursday night at the dinner and awards night marking the grand finale of the state’s 30th anniversary celebrations, tagged Celebrating Legacies, held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha memorial banquet hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor said Bayelsans owed a debt of gratitude to Abacha for creating the state on October 1, 1996, arguing that the decision brought together a predominantly Ijaw population that had previously been divided among different states.
Diri said, “If at every point in my remarks I keep calling him, it is because of what God used him to do for the Ijaw ethnic nationality,as I said yesterday, general Abacha might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he is the one who freed us from oppression.
“He freed us from injustice and gave a homogeneous state to a people that had been balkanised into various states, making us minorities in some,the governor, who spoke in the presence of members of the Abacha family, including his son, Abba Abacha, and daughter, Alhaja Fatima Gumsu Abacha, said the state would continue to acknowledge the role played by the late Head of State in its creation.”
He urged the Abacha family to convey the gratitude of Bayelsans to their mother.”
The event which attracted prominent political, traditional business and diplomatic figures, featured the conferment of state honours on 63 individuals and institutions for their contributions to the creation, development and promotion of Bayelsa state and the Ijaw people.
Among those honoured were Abacha; former president Goodluck Jonathan; the late major Isaac Adaka Boro; former governor chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, nationalist chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, former military administrators of the state, including the late Navy captain Caleb Olubolade (retd.), Navy captain Phillip Ayeni (retd.), police commissioner Habu Daura (retd.) and colonel Edor Obi (retd.); as well as immediate past governor Seriake Dickson.
Also honoured were prominent Ijaw personalities, academics, athletes, entertainers, public servants and business leaders,
Diri said the anniversary was also an opportunity to reflect on the progress recorded by the state since its creation, noting that Bayelsa had moved from a place with limited infrastructure to a state with tertiary institutions, road networks, healthcare facilities and other major projects.
“According to him, Bayelsa had no tertiary institution at creation but now had more than five institutions, including universities, polytechnics and a college of education,he also recalled that the state inherited only a single lane Mbiama Yenagoa road at its creation saying successive administrations had expanded the state’s road infrastructure through major highways and the three senatorial roads.”
“Do we talk about the healthcare transformation, so much has been done, and we can rightly say that Bayelsa has moved forward and is no longer where it used to be,” Diri congratulated the recipients of the awards, describing them as part of the legacies that had shaped the state.
Responding on behalf of the honourees, former president Goodluck Jonathan dedicated his award to his late political mentor and former governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, whom he credited with bringing him into politics as his deputy.
Jonathan said although some young Bayelsans questioned what there was to celebrate after 30 years of statehood, Bayelsa had recorded significant progress since its creation,although we have not reached where we are supposed to be, I am happy where we are, I am happy that Bayelsa State was created, and we have gained tremendously, Jonathan said.
He added that Bayelsans would remain grateful to Abacha for making the creation of the state possible,Jonathan also commended Diri for organising the anniversary and recognising individuals who contributed to the creation and development of the state.
Other recipients included individuals who played roles in the creation and sustenance of the Ijaw people under the contribution to sustenance of Ijaw existence category, while the late British-born linguist, professor Kay Williamson, was honoured for her contribution to the promotion of the Ijaw language.
In sports, Olympic medalists Daniel Igali and Blessing Oborududu, as well as former super eagles players and coaches Samson Siasia and Finidi George, were among those recognised.
former president of the Ijaw national congress, Chief Joshua Fumudoh; musicians, the late King Robert Ebizimor, Inetimi Odon (Timaya) and Timi Dakolo; and former head of service of the federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, were also honoured.
The education category featured Professor Ayebaemi Spiff, the late Professor Lawrence Ekpebu, Professor Ebiegberi Alagoa, Professor Dimie Ogoina and Professor Youpele Beredugo.
Other awardees included Bayelsa-born businessmen Chief Dan Etete, Engineer Gesi Asamaowei, Engineer Preye Berezi, Chief Ken Etete, King Ebitimi Banigo, Dr Ephraim Faloughi, Dr Daru Owei and Chief Robert Enogha.
The Bayelsa State cultural troupe, the late former national security adviser, General Owoeye Azazi, minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr Heineken Lokpobiri, teenage chess sensation Deborah Quickpen, and the late nationalist and pioneer editor of the Daily Times, Ernest Ikoli, were among other recipients.
The event also recognised a number of personalities for their contributions to public service, the military, legislature, sports, education, culture, business and the promotion of Ijaw identity.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included the wives of the governor, Dr Gloria Diri and justice Patience Ama-Diri; deputy governor Dr Peter Akpe and his wife, Dr Favour Akpe,speaker of the state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, represented by his deputy,members of the assembly; and secretary to the state Government, professor Nimibofa Ayawei.
Others included Lokpobiri,managing director of the Niger Delta development commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku; managing director of the Niger Delta basin development authority, Ebitimi Amgbare; comptroller general of the Nigeria customs service, Alhaji Bashir Adeniyi; chairman of the Bayelsa state traditional rulers council, king Bubaraye Dakolo, and other traditional rulers.
Ambassadors of Germany, Portugal, Italy, Vietnam, Angola, the Czech Republic, and São Tome and príncipe also attended the ceremony.
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