Last week, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, turned 66. His physique belies his age. It is rarely believable that he had attained that age. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he remains fit like a fiddle due to his commitment to regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
Born on June 4, 1959, Governor Diri is a sports enthusiast, particularly in football. He has continued to make physical activity a priority. He starts his day with jogging or other sporting activities, thus setting a great example for his aides, civil servants, and the entire state.
One notable initiative of his administration is the "Prosperity Walk" every Thursday morning. The governor leads the walk with his team, comprising senior government functionaries. The walk is followed by additional exercise at the Samson Siasia stadium. This commitment to fitness has inspired many to prioritize their well-being.
Given his commitment to fitness, it's no surprise that Governor Douye Diri exudes energy when inspecting projects. As part of his routine, he visits various projects across Bayelsa State almost every week, barring official trips or annual vacations.
These inspections have become a defining feature of his leadership style. Usually dressed in casual attire, Governor Diri focuses on his signature projects, including the Nembe-Brass Road and the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road.
The Nembe-Brass Road project had been on the drawing board for over 60 years. The cost due to the terrain was a major factor for successive administrations in the state not to embark on it. But in 2022, Diri initiated and awarded the contract.
As of today, 60 per cent of the 21km first phase has been completed. According to the governor, in spite of the project’s high cost, his administration started it because of its significance to Bayelsa and Nigeria as a whole. The project, when completed, would bring massive development to communities in the two local government areas, enhance connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and unlock the economic potential of the Atlantic Ocean.
Seeing the commitment of the governor and realising the project's importance, the Federal Government has taken over the second phase. President Bola Tinubu recently performed the virtual flag-off with the contractor already mobilised to site.
Diri is also pursuing the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road, which he inherited from the former administration of Seriake Dickson. The project was first awarded by then Governor Goodluck Jonathan in 2006 and was re-awarded by the administration of Dickson in December 2012.
The 10.75km second phase of the project was inagurated by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in November 2023, following the completion of a 40-metre bridge as well as 150-metre bridge at Aguobiri and a 533-metre road single carriageway to Angiama community.
Today, indigenes of communities like Otuan that have never driven a car to their place after nearly 30 years since Bayelsa was created now do so with ease. This is what Governor Diri meant when he coined the "Prosperity Assured" mantra of his government. He is determined to see that before he leaves office, Yenagoa, the capital, is linked by most communities within the Southern Ijaw flank of the state.
It is the same vigour that he wants to activate the Ekeremor-Agge road. The road, which is another multi-billion Naira project, would prepare access for the Agge-Deep seaport, a major economic hub that would serve as a catalyst for Bayelsa to flourish beyond imagination.
Governor Diri is very intentional, and his strategic approach to these projects despite the huge cost gives him away as a visionary leader whose eyes are set on the ball. The ultimate aim is to rescue the state from its current civil service industry and the over dependence on oil.
It is imperative to note that with these bold efforts and the resilience of the governor in the face of other competing economic needs, Diri is carving a future for Bayelsa and that future would be brighter when the gas-powered turbine that is being installed comes on. Bayelsa will shine!
