Before the advent of the ASSURED PROSPERITY Administration, Bayelsans use to panic and groan over the unknown. Many were always agitated about what to eat during Christmas. The above was worsened by perpetual darkness in most cases.
But since the inception of the Very Distinguished Senator Douye Diri led administration, the fear of what to eat during the festive season and general fear of the unknown among Bayelsans is almost eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum.
It is difficult to see communities and families that do not benefit directly or indirectly from the Governor’s benevolence and goodwill. I say this because appointments of different kinds and categories are distributed Local Government by Local Government, Ward by Ward and beyond. This arrangement gives all segments and sections high sense of belonging.
Distribution of Christmas Rice and others to Wards, Communities, different groups including Christians and Muslims, Indigenes and Non-indigenes, members of different political parties started about two weeks ago.
As at yesterday, another set of distribution has started again. This is one of the first time in the history of Bayelsa state that trailers of goats and rice are shared to political appointees despite the long list of appointees.
Surprisingly, Senator Douye Diri, the Joy Giver is not Campaigning or seeking a reelection. He is not doing all the wonderful things that he is doing because he wants Bayelsans to vote for him again.
I say the above because most politicians do what Gov. Douye Diri is doing during their first tenure because they want support for second term.
Unfortunately, we have a sad system where most people behave like Catholics who have just taken Holy Communion. In the Catholic Church, a Communicant does not talk the moment he or she receives Holy Communion which is the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesud Christ. You don’t talk or open your mouth for anyone to see the size of the Communion that the Priest, Catechist or Eucharistic Minister gave to you. Gov. Douye Diri is doing so much for Bayelsans and others but the beneficiaries hardly talk about the benevolence of His Excellency.
For instance, I know how people wailed, cried, abused, insulted and did all unimaginable things when there was no light in the state. Bayelsans were not ready to hear or know that it was not the fault of the state government. His Excellency mobilized funds and gave a marching order to Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, the Managing Director/CEO of the Bayelsa State Electricity Company Limited.
Despite the flood that flooded the whole of those large lakes and rivers along the Ahoada-Okogbe Axis of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Towers and Lines, Engr. Olice mobilized Special Amphibious workers and Electricity was restored to Bayelsa state within the time frame that the government promised.
But how many persons have gone to Twitter and other Social Media platforms, radio or television to thank the Governor, the way people were castigating the government in those platforms?
There is need to deliberately develop the attitude of gratitude. Many are quick to ask whether the Governor is using his personal funds. Agreed, he is the Chief Custodian of our Commonwealth and Patrimony but a good Manager deserves commendation, appreciation and even celebration. The above is necessary because it will spur him to work harder. It is a known fact that motivation among workers enhances efficiency and productivity.
Today, the ugly incident about the Power/Electricity situation has made our ever proactive Governor and Steward to acquire a Brand new set of Gas Turbine. It will be installed at Elebele town close to the Gas Turbine of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Transformers of the old Gas Turbine at Imiringi Town that was installed by the Chief (Sen) Dr. Melford Obiene Okilo administration have been sent to Benin, Edo State for refurbishing.
His Excellency, Very Distinguished Senator Douye Diri is working round the clock to ensure that by 2025 which is next year, Bayelsans should have uninterrupted Electricity.
It is a known fact that Power is a general problem in the country. We have read and heard how the National Grid collapsed 12 times within months. So, Power Challenge is not peculiar to Bayelsa state.
Before now, Power Generation and Distribution was in the Exclusive List of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (As Amended) until recently that it has been domiciled in the Concurrent List, thereby giving Constitutional Powers to states to generate and distribute Electricity.
Moving forward, all hands must be on deck. We need to support the ongoing infrastructural development in the state and the Industrial Revolution that has started especially with the access roads to the Sea and Ocean where the vast wealth of the state is domiciled.
~ Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli
Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Print Media and Public Affairs.
