November 30, (THEWILL) – Recently, I was chatting with a Northern friend about governors that made tremendous impacts in their states this flood season, and when I mentioned Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, he was curious to know what the governor has done and still doing. When I was done telling him of the governor’s achievements and proactive measures before and during the flood, he was speechless.
So it became clear that as a people, we are good at fault finding. Do not get me wrong, I am not a praise singer and at my age and responsibilities, I would rather avoid a discussion than put my Integrity to question. I believe that the government is a continuum. As long as you can deliver on your promise by improving the standard of living of the citizens, then you have my support. Hence, I decided to change the narrative with the use of my pen to bring the spotlight on the governor of Bayelsa State and some of his laudable work before and during the flood.
Before the flood, Douye Diri did an experimental bridge meant to function as a drainage in many parts of the state (Okutukutu, Sampou, Ekeremor, etc). It is unfortunate that the experiment met the most devastating flood in our history and could not tame the situation. For record purposes, Douye Diri was the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Government in 2012 when we had the worse flood experience before now and as a system man, who has so much faith in God, had probably believe such an experience in 2012 will not occur again and so worked towards the 2012 flood standard with the Experiment.
Before the final arrival of the flood, Douye Diri had shut down all primary and secondary schools in the state to save lives and had set up IDP camps all over the state to save properties. Immediately after the arrival of the flood, Douye Diri first Declared a week’s holiday for all civil servants in the State and later extended it to two weeks, to ease some tension among the people. The Governor also spent over a billion Naira on Palliatives to support all those directly affected by the flood and single-handedly supervised activities around the state to ensure some persons don’t take advantage of the situation for selfish reasons.
One thing that really stood out is the level of medical attention given to the flood victims in all the IDP camps. The Governor ensured the Ministry of Environment and Health was on top of its game.
That’s not all, Governor Diri also went ahead to make a state broadcast, appealing to everyone both at the national and international levels to come to the aid of his people. Through this act, the governor made a bold statement that “he is a man of the people.”
As we continue to lay claims on the achievement and goodness of the governor, one would ask how he has been able to achieve all these. Well, he has constantly attributed his success to God. My counsel to him, however, is that he should remain focused and not be distracted by those who do not wish the state well.
All the governor needs to do is continue to remain diligent, never soil his conscience, integrity and the good reputation he has built all these years. He should continue to be committed to the welfare and development of Bayelsa State. Also, he should run an all-inclusive government by carrying as many that wish to be carried along, irrespective of their political affiliation, towards a greater state. The time for political acrimony is over, it is time to unite for more development.
My advice is echoed in the words of Ernest Agyemang, that he should regard his election and re-election as “A journey to make a real impact that changes lives, give meaning to life and living, and turns vision of the masses into realities demands a true focus, an utmost zeal and robustness and an unfailing tenacity to do whatever necessary within the powers and reach of a true leader, and with needed dexterity, wit and wisdom, to make a real impact have a meaning and give real liberation to the masses.”
***Dr Konbowei Benson, a former Speaker of the Bayelsa state house of Assembly, is the People’s Democratic Party Bayelsa Central Senatorial District Flagbearer.*
About the Author
