By Passman Akpos
Bayelsa State has witnessed a dramatic shift in governance culture and public participation since the emergence of the Assured Prosperity Administration, according to Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, who on Tuesday issued a strongly worded statement praising Governor Douye Diri’s leadership style and developmental strides.
Ikuli argued that prior to the current administration, governance in Bayelsa operated like an exclusive club where political affiliation determined access to state benefits.According to him, “leadership and governance were exclusive rights of politicians, while the majority remained spectators.”
He said the era was marked by public officers who treated state resources as personal property and a culture of “my turn versus wait for your turn,” resulting in poor development outcomes and a negative national image for the oil-rich state.
Inclusive Governance, Open Access to Opportunities
Ikuli noted that Diri’s administration broke from the past by opening governance structures to all Bayelsans, irrespective of political party or personal connections.“You do not need to know anyone in government to access benefits,” he said, describing the shift as unprecedented in the state’s political history.
Bayelsa ‘Now a Construction Site’
The statement credited Governor Diri with turning Bayelsa into “a massive construction site,” with roads, bridges, government facilities, and educational and health infrastructure allegedly spread across all localities.He described these projects as so numerous that they are “no longer counted as major achievements.”
Drawing a parallel, Ikuli likened Diri’s role in Bayelsa to that of former Governor Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom, who he said transformed a previously derided state into a model of development.
Political Backlash Called “Insignificant”
Ikuli criticized political actors he described as “insignificant leaders” for insinuating that Governor Diri had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).He claimed such leaders represent less than 5% of Bayelsans and rely solely on party longevity as their political credential.
Peace, Security, and Investment Climate
The statement also highlighted what Ikuli called “the safest-state status” of Bayelsa under Diri, attributing it to enhanced security collaboration and a unique community policing model now being copied by other states.
He further claimed that investors are now relocating to Bayelsa, encouraged by the administration’s business-friendly climate.
Setting a New Standard for Successors
Ikuli insisted that Diri has established “a leadership and development benchmark” that future governments must follow, adding that Bayelsa can no longer be handed back to “unserious characters” defined only by their years in politics.
He concluded by describing Governor Diri as “the greatest thing that happened to our contemporary democracy… a God-sent leader.”
