‘He freed Ijaw from oppression’ —Diri gives Abacha posthumous award for creating Bayelsa
Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, has honoured the late Sani Abacha, former military head of state, for creating the state.
Diri conferred the honour on the late military ruler on Thursday night at a dinner and awards ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa’s creation.
Bayelsa was created on October 1, 1996, alongside five other states by Abacha.
The event, themed “Celebrating Legacies”, was held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan; members of Abacha’s family, including Abba Abacha and Fatima Gumsu Abacha; national assembly members, diplomats, business leaders and government officials attended the event.
Diri said Abacha deserved continued commendation for creating an “homogenous” Ijaw state from communities that had previously been divided among different states.
According to him, the creation of the state freed the Ijaw people from oppression and injustice.
“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,” Diri said.
“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 homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states and making us minority in some.”
The governor said the state’s 30th anniversary was also an opportunity to reflect on its development since its creation.
He noted that Bayelsa had no tertiary institution at inception but now had more than five, including universities, polytechnics and a college of education.
Diri said Bayelsa had also progressed from having only the single-lane Mbiama-Yenagoa road to a network of roads, dualised highways and three senatorial roads connecting different parts of the state.
“Do we talk about the healthcare transformation? So much has been done, and we can rightly say that Bayelsa had moved forward and no longer where it used to be,” he said.
He also honoured 63 people and institutions for their contributions to the creation and development of the state.
Those honoured included Abacha, former President Jonathan, Isaac Boro, a political activist, the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, first civilian governor of Bayelsa, Harold Dappa-Biriye, a politician.
Others included the late Caleb Olubolade, Phillip Ayeni, Habu Daura and Edor Obi, all former military administrators of the state, as well as Seriake Dickson, former governor of Bayelsa.
Jonathan, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, dedicated his award to Alamieyeseigha, his former political boss who appointed him deputy governor.
He said Bayelsa had made significant progress in its 30 years of existence but was yet to reach its desired level of development.
“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.
“Bayelsans will always remain grateful to late Gen. Sani Abacha who made it possible for Bayelsa to be among the last six states he created.”
The former president also commended Diri for organising the anniversary and recognising those who contributed to the creation and development of the state.
