BAYELSA: Diri’s Prosperity a mirage, second Tenure bid fails, if……

by Passman Akpos

The prosperity being preached by our Miracle Governor, Senator Douye Diri is a rhetoric and not a real word in the practical sense of it.

I use the words “Miracle Governor” because it was actually a divine arrangement that made him to ascend the position as the Governor of Bayelsa State.

In real sense, the people of Bayelsa State never voted for Senator Douye Diri for the Governor of the State.

I believe Senator Douye Diri is a Child of God, as I am, he study the word of God. I want him to study 1st Samuel 15:16-23 and be true to himself.

Senator Douye Diri should know that, when you fail to achieve the purpose of honour for which you were made, three things will happen to you.The first thing is that, you will be set aside, the second is that, you will be replaced. There’s no room or vacuum in the system of God. The third is, because God does everything for his purpose, He will use an erstwhile instrument of honour as a vessel into dishonour.

Sometimes as a journalist and an indegen of the state, I feel like crying.

According to Nairametrics on the poverty index of Nigeria, Sokoto State led the list of state with the highest multidimensional poverty index with 0.409 and 5.81 million poor people.

This was followed closely by our own, beloved Bayelsa State, with an index of 0.401 and 2.61 million poor people.

Where is the prosperity when our dear State is the second most poorest state of all State in the federation.

Is it a prosperity in the true sense of it or is a mirage?According to English Dictionary, ” prosperity is defined as an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment.

What was the last time the administration of Douye Diri has come up with employment opportunity for our teeming youth in the state.Or, is it the widely politicized skill aquisition program in the media or the said secret employment in the state civil service?.

According to Majorwaves Energy Report between Governor Wike of Rivers state and Senator Diri of Bayelsa State on the recent 13 percent oil derivation arreas on December 3rd 2022, and I quote.

” Wike had asked the Attorney General of the federation, Abubakar Malami to thank President Muhammadu Bahari, for releasing backlog of 13 percent oil derivation deductions from 1999 till date to oil producing state, saying that the funds enabled him to carryout numerous projects in the state including 12 flyovers”

” But Governor Douye Diri noting that construction was difficult in a terrain like Bayelsa, said that the cost of constructing a road project in the state was more than three or four flyover in some other state even in the Niger-Delta”.

The question I will ask is, how many flyover as Governor Diri Constructed in Bayelsa to ascertained that the cost of a road project (I believe he was saying a flyover) is more than three or four flyovers in some other states even in the Niger-Delta?

Does he meant to say, he measure is estimate base on his predecessor on the flyover he built in the Azikoro Area of Bayelsa State ? if so, let him come out plain.

An unknown author once said “If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not you’ll find an excuse”.

I don’t want to dwell on his road project, both the ones he has constructed or still constructing. But I want to comment on the road construction between Etegwe NIIT road to Tombia roundabout, this project as been in construction right from the last administration. The first tenor of this current administration is coming to an end yet the road has not been put to use.

Governor Diri has repeatedly said he’s constructing roads to the riverine areas to open up Bayelsa State. I am an indegen of Egbemo-Angalabiri, one of the highest oil producing Communities in the Niger-Delta, yet have not heard or seen, if road is coming to that part.

The media complex in Azikoro road that is named after one of Nigeria’s foremost Journalist and Nationalist, Ernest Ikoli as been commmissed for over one year or more but as never been put to use. Is clear that it was done in a hurry for media publicity and political guise.

When Diri came onboard, traders and market women in the Tombia/Amassoma road suffer great lost.This event is still fresh in my memory because I personally went to cover activities of traders in that axis, when he sent task force to get them off the road that he want to duallise the road for the Airport.

Traders and market women of Bayelsa origin lost millions of naira due to his activities, they were made to face difficulties even in the hash economy yet that road is still lieing fallow, no construction work on site yet.

currently the hunger rate in the state is of the increase. where is the prosperity when the basic need of the people which is food can not be afford.

Diri should stop calling is administration a prosperity administration rather, call it a poverty administration.

This is not to condemn Senator Diri but to let him know where he is failing and make amends.

Because, if care is not taking, his dream of realizing is second tenure will be dash down. A stiche in time saves nine!

I, AM PASSMAN AKPOS , A JOURNALIST, A SOCIAL COMMENTATOR, A POLITICAL ANALYST, SECRETARY NIGER-DELTA EX-AGITATORS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAM……..

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