Bayelsa state was created out of Rivers State on October 1, 1996 by the Sani Abacha’s military government. Its name was derived from the first few letters of the names of the major local government areas from which it was formed – Brass LGA (BALGA), Yenagoa (YELGA) and Sagbama (SALGA). Hence BAYELSA was derived from the letters BA + YEL + SA.
Bayelsa State has one of the largest crude oil and natural gas deposits in Nigeria. As a result, petroleum production is extensive in the state. However, the majority of Bayelsans live in poverty.
Since its creation in 1996, Bayelsa has had nine Governors; this includes 4 Military administrators and 5 politically elected Governors, who have served the State which is renowned as the Glory of All Lands.
Beginning from Navy Captain Phillip Oladipo Ayeni who was the first Administrator of Bayelsa State, after it had been formed from part of Rivers State, holding office from October 1996 to February 1997 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
After him came, Police Commissioner Habu Daura was acting Administrator of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, holding office from February to June 1997 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
Navy Captain Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade, a former Military Administrator also governed Bayelsa State for 1 year.
Lt. Colonel (retired) Paul Edor Obi was Administrator of Bayelsa State, Nigeria from July 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
In 1999, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (DSP) was elected as a Governor of Bayelsa State from 29 May 1999 to 9 December 2005. His Deputy, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, took over the mantle of leadership, when he (Alamieyeseigha) faced the heat of corruption charges between 2005-2007.
Timipre Marlin Sylva, was a former Governor of Bayelsa State, former Nigeria Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. Senator Seriake Henry Dickson, an astute politician who knows his onions in the ‘trade’ of politics, served as Governor of Bayelsa state between 2012-2019; now a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Douye Diri is the 5th democratically elected Governor of Bayelsa State. He is a Nigerian politician and incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State. He was the senator representing Bayelsa Central senatorial district of Bayelsa state at the Nigerian 9th National Assembly.
Like the biblical story of Jesus Christ, who came out of Nazareth, a relatively small community of Jerusalem, Governor Diri is a native of Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa. A town in the Niger Delta that has never been considered to produce a revered citizen in the country, talkless of making a Senator, turned Governor.
Since inception of this present political dispensation in Bayelsa State, the journey has not been easy for Governor Duoye Diri. The State has faced many political turbulences.
Though, Governor Douye Diri has brought breath of fresh air to the political scene in Bayelsa, driven by the spirit of oneness, love and peace, the daunting challenges occasioned by different causes, has not hindered him from addressing the development needs of the people of Bayelsa.
However, the waves are getting stilled, by the Political ingenuity and local wisdom of Duoye Diri, the 5th Politically elected Governor of Bayelsa State.
A former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Douye Diri, has grown so close to his people- the Bayelsans, who entrusted him with their votes massively on February 14, 2020. Though, When he came on board on 14th of February, 2020, he was received with mixed feelings and fumes on faces of many Bayelsans, because of the political events which heralded what many described as a divine emergence which earned him the appellation, “miracle governor” in the State.
Bayelsa is the southernmost state in Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The main language spoken is Ijaw with dialects such as Kolukuma, Mein, Bomu, Nembe, Epie-Atisa, and Ogbia. Like the rest of Nigeria, English is the official language. The state was formed in 1996 from part of Rivers State and is thus one of the newest states of the Nigerian federation.
The Governor has had a good relationship with his predecessors, especially his immediate predecessor, Seriake Dickson, who just got elected into the Senate.
He thanked the people of the state for coming out to vote for his predecessor, Seriake Dickson and the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Moses Cleopas, who both emerged winners of the election.
Diri, while thanking Bayelsans for the confidence reposed on the party, maintained that the outcome of the election has shown that voters have made a strong and unequivocal statement.
He said: “It is highly refreshing to note that for the first time, the electoral process in our state was largely peaceful and rancour free and I wish to thank the INEC, security agencies and all stakeholders for lending their goodwill and respecting the will of the people.
“We as a people are determined to evolve a non-violent electioneering culture and I am glad we have risen to the occasion.”
After his landslide victory in the February 2020 election, the Supreme Court, in November, affirmed the election of Douye Diri as the authentic governor of Bayelsa State.
A seven-member panel of justices of the apex court in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the six appeals, which sought to oust Governor Diri and the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, following withdrawal of applications by counsel to the appellants.
No doubt, Governor Diri is a man that has enjoyed favours and public acceptance among his people. Governor Douye Diri has made it resoundingly clear to whoever cares to listen that he has a covenant with God and the people over the task of steering the State to the path of prosperity.
Within his 100 days on the saddle, Governor Douye Diri’s first priority is to complete life transforming projects he inherited from his predecessors by mobilising contractors to sites to complete such projects dotted across the State.
After emergence, the Governor promptly inaugurated the twin council of Bayelsa Security Council and the Community Policing Council to squarely address the security challenges in the State with a conviction that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity.
The twin Security Councils are unique Security architecture in response to contemporary clarion call for home grown system rooted in grassroots galvanisation.
Just like some of his counterparts in the Country, Governor Diri places workers and retirees in a place of importance, such that their payments are prompt. Chief among his package for them is their welfare, as they recount the blessings of his administration. According to sources, in the past ten years, Bayelsa retirees have not fared well. They have suffered one neglect or the other in terms of delay in payment of monthly pensions to that of outright non-payment of gratuity.
At the moment, Governor Diri’s administration is giving the State capital, Yenogua a befitting face lift. It has embarked on the demolition of illegal structures that obstruct right of way. These structures disgracefully deface the State Capital.
Interestingly, some political entities, as it is applicable across the globe, have made foul cries and tried in vain to politicalize the innocent and honest move by the Governor; however, Bayelsans unanimously applauded this bold move in ridding Yenagoa, the State Capital of shanties that have become eye-sores to visitors and tourists.
It is apparent that Governor Diri of Bayelsa State is receiving the necessary supports from his kinsmen and in no time, he would place the State on the golden map of achievers. It is therefore pertinent to appeal to aggrieved members of the State to put politics aside, and join hands with a focus-driven man, who is all-bent on putting Bayelsa state in a place of pride among its contemporaries.
