30 Years After Bayelsa’s Creation, Diri Hails Abacha As “Liberator” Of Ijaw People

By Passman Akpos

YENAGOA, BAYELSA — Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has described the creation of the state by the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, on October 1, 1996, as a historic development that, in his words, “freed” the Ijaw people from oppression and injustice.

Diri made the statement on Thursday night at the Dinner and Awards Night marking the grand finale of the Bayelsa at 30 anniversary celebrations, held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

The event, themed “Celebrating Legacies,” attracted former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; members of the Abacha family, including Abba Abacha and Hajia Fatima Gumsu Abacha; members of the National Assembly; diplomats; business leaders and senior government officials.

The governor said Abacha deserved continued appreciation from Bayelsans and the Ijaw people for creating a predominantly Ijaw state from territories that had previously been divided among different states.

Diri said: “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 us a homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states, and making us minority in some.”

According to the governor, his repeated reference to Abacha during the anniversary was deliberate because of what he described as the late military ruler’s role in the creation of Bayelsa.

He expressed appreciation to Abacha’s family members present at the ceremony and asked them to convey the gratitude of Bayelsans to the family.

Diri also used the occasion to highlight the development recorded in Bayelsa since its creation 30 years ago, saying the state’s progress from limited infrastructure to the development of roads, educational institutions and healthcare facilities justified the anniversary celebrations.

He said Bayelsa had no tertiary institution at its creation but now had more than five institutions, including universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The governor also pointed to the transformation of the Mbiama-Yenagoa road from a single-lane route at the state’s creation to what he described as a broader network of roads, dualised highways and senatorial roads linking 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,” Diri stated.

A total of 63 individuals and institutions were honoured during the ceremony for their contributions to the creation, development and advancement of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw people.

Those honoured included the late General Sani Abacha, former President Goodluck Jonathan, the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and former military administrators of the state.

The former military administrators recognised included the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni, Police Commissioner Habu Daura and Colonel Edor Obi.

The immediate past governor of the state, Senator Seriake Dickson, was also among the recipients.

Responding on behalf of the award recipients, former President Jonathan dedicated his honour to his late political mentor and former boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who brought him into politics as deputy governor.

Jonathan said although some young people questioned what Bayelsa had to celebrate after 30 years, the state 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 the late General Abacha for making the creation of Bayelsa possible as one of the six states established during his administration.

Jonathan also commended Governor Diri for organising the anniversary celebration and recognising individuals who contributed to the creation and development of the state.

Other personalities recognised included individuals associated with the creation and sustenance of Ijaw identity, linguistics, education, sports, public service, business, politics, the military, entertainment and culture.

Among them were the late British-born linguist, Professor Kay Williamson; Olympic wrestlers Daniel Igali and Blessing Oborududu; former Super Eagles players and coaches Samson Siasia and Finidi George; former Ijaw National Congress President Chief Joshua Fumudoh; musicians including the late King Robert Ebizimor, Inetimi Odon, popularly known as Timaya, and Timi Dakolo.

Former Head of Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, was also honoured, alongside academics including Professor Ayebaemi Spiff, the late Professor Lawrence Ekpebu, Professor Ebiegberi Alagoa, Professor Dimie Ogoina and Professor Youpele Beredugo.

Bayelsa-born businessmen honoured included 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 also received recognition, alongside the late former National Security Adviser, General Owoeye Azazi; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr Heineken Lokpobiri; pioneer editor of Daily Times Newspaper and nationalist Ernest Ikoli; and teenage chess player Deborah Quickpen.

The anniversary ceremony also attracted diplomatic representatives from Germany, Portugal, Italy, Vietnam, Angola, Czech Republic, São Tomé and Principe, as well as traditional rulers, lawmakers, senior government officials and development agency chiefs.

The event marked the culmination of Bayelsa’s 30th anniversary celebrations, providing a platform for the state to reflect on its history, recognise individuals associated with its creation and development, and celebrate achievements recorded since October 1, 1996.