Diri: It’s Rare Privilege to Be Bayelsa Gov

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said he was determined to leave lasting legacies in infrastructure development as he considered it a rare privilege to govern the state.
Diri stated this on Saturday during a gala night organised by the state government in honour of members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.
The event rounded off the three-day 20th All-Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) held in the state capital.
Diri said he treated issues of development of the state seriously as he was aware that constitutionally he was allowed only two terms in office.

He assured the people that with his deputy, they would keep doing their best in the remaining three years for Bayelsans to feel the impact of their service to the state and to the country.
“For us, it is a rare privilege to serve our people. Opportunity like this does not come often. By the constitution of Nigeria, I am barred from contesting again as governor of Bayelsa State.

“So, the only thing that will speak for me, my deputy and most of us in this administration, is the legacy that we leave in terms of both human and material infrastructure.
“Developing the state is now in our hands and we will keep doing our best in the remaining three years so that when we leave, the state will continue to feel our impact having travelled this eight-year journey in service to people of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.”

Responding to remarks of the NGE president, Diri approved the request to institute an annual lecture to honour and immortalise a foremost nationalist and pioneer editor of Daily Times, late Mr. Ernest Sesei Ikoli, an indigene of Bayelsa State, beginning from 2025.
He also granted an appeal by the Guild’s president for two interns at the state-owned Niger Delta Television (NDTV), who missed out when the governor directed the employment of 13 of their colleagues, when he visited the station last year.

NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba, expressed gratitude to Diri for being a perfect host and for recognising the essential roles editors play in shaping the society.
Anaba also stated that the support of the governor during the conference was an indication of the importance he attached to a free and responsible press.

Highlighting the various project sites visited, he expressed appreciation to the governor particularly for constructing an iconic media complex named after Ernest Ikoli.
In a welcome remark, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, commended the Guild for promoting excellence in journalism and for successfully organising the 20th ANEC.