When Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri was crisscrossing the length and breadth of the state campaigning and seeking revalidation of the mandate given to him by the people ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election, he made some promises to the people concerning some of the things he would do if re-elected.
While rounding off his second tenure campaign in the three constituencies of Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri promised to prioritize the development of Yenagoa so as to make it a modern city. There is evidence on ground that the governor is working towards making Yenagoa a modern city.
The evidence include the dual carriageway Glory Drive from Igbogene roundabout to the Etegwe/Tombia road and the continuation of work on the phase III, stretching from there to Yenagoa. There are also the inaugurated Road 24 opposite Prosco at Okaka and the completed stretch of the Igbogene/Elebele road that would be inaugurated as part of activities marking the Governor's fifth anniversary programme. In addition to these first class roads are several access roads dotting the nooks and crannies of Yenagoa.
Other evidences include the commencement of work on the 25,000-sitting capacity stadium at Igbogene, the New Yenagoa City with the network of roads, the legislative and commissioners' quarters. There is also the redesigning of the Tombia roundabout and the perimeter fencing at the Swali, Kpansia and Opolo markets. All of these will add up to making Yenagoa a modern City.
The governor said he would construct a new nine-storey secretariat complex to ease the office accommodation problem in the state. Plans to actualize this project have been put in motion as the groundbreaking ceremony of the iconic secretariat would be performed by the Head of the Federal Civil Service, Dame Didi Walson-Jack on Friday, February 28, 2025
According to the governor, every opportunity organised labour had of meeting with him, they never failed to re-echoe their request for a befitting secretariat complex for the two labour blocks in the state.
The state government has built a two-winged secretariat complex for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and was inaugurated by the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
As soon as the Federal Government liberalized the power sector, and fuelled by how vandals threw the state into darkness for more than four months, Governor Diri said the state would generate its own electricity for the people to enjoy uninterrupted power supply. Today, the process of engendering uninterrupted power supply has commenced. During the 151st State Executive Council meeting, approval was given for the purchase of a 60 megawatts gas turbine and it will be delivered in two months and residents will start enjoying the power by the end of the year.
The governor promised to take the Sagbama/Ekeremor road to Agge, the Yenagoa/Oporoma/Ukubie road to Oporoma and also to commence work on the Nembe/Brass road. On this, the governor has been faithful to his promise. The Sagbama/Ekeremor road has hit Ekeremor town and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ekeremor/Agge stretch of the road would be performed during the fifth anniversary celebration. Work on the Angiama bridge is going on and as soon as it is completed, people can drive to Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Sand filling of the Nembe/Brass road is on-going..
Following the outstanding performances of the students of St. Jude's Girls Secondary School, Amarata and Bishop Dimeari Grammar School, Ovom, who won both the male and female categories of the Nestle Milo All Nigeria Secondary School Basketball Championship, Diri promised to build a basketball court in the two schools. The governor has delivered on his promise.
Governor Diri, who is hooked on the prosperity of Bayelsans, has never failed to take advantage of any opportunity to restart his commitment to human capacity building and empowerment. For Diri, developing the capacities of the youths and women of the state and empowering them has always been a continuous thing. It was no surprise therefore when on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, he empowered a total of 2,850 trainees of the third batch of the Diri Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Programme and start up packs given to each of them.
In his independence day broadcast and the 28th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri promised that his administration would construct no fewer than 1,000 affordable housing units across the eight local areas of the state. He also gave assurance of the provision of pipe-borne water in Yenagoa, the state capital, and environs in his second term in office.
To date, the promise of the housing units and provision of potable water in Yenagoa and environs have not been achieved . It is hoped that like the other projeccts were executed and the new ones started, the yet-to-be-actualised housing units and the provision of potable water will also be executed. The governor still has three years.
In spite of the housing units and water supply not yet done, the governor has done well. He is indeed one who matcches words with action.
