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Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpibiri, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah(rtd) and members of the Bayelsa State Caucus in the National Assembly have extolled leadership qualities of the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as he marks his sixth year in office anniversary.
In his goodwill message the Minister described Diri’s emergence as governor as a divine intervention for the state.
He said not many understood why he was referred to as the Miracle Governor, describing his emergence as one of the few miracles he had seen in life.
Lokpibiri stated this at the sixth year anniversary thanksgiving service of the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri which held Saturday 14th February at the State’s Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene-Yenagoa.
He also stated that Diri was God’s choice for the state and that no man can claim the credit.
He said: “I am very happy to be here to celebrate your sixth year in office. A lot of people may not know why you are called the “Miracle Governor.” You are in fact one of the few miracles I have seen in my life.
“As I listened to the preacher, what he said about Psalm 127 was very instructive concerning what happened to us in the All Progressives Congress before today. He said except the Lord builds, the man who builds does so in vain. We in APC then built in vain.
“Just like what the Bible says, no matter what you do, the Lord gives power to whoever He wants. So no man can ascend to any office without God.
“I say so because myself, Chief Timipre Sylva, Chief David Lyon, and all of us were building, thinking that APC would take over Bayelsa in 2015. But because God was not building with us, we built in vain.
“Today, under your leadership, all of us are gathered here. That is why I am saying it in church here that no matter what you do, it is God that gives power to whoever he wants. So nobody should claim that he made you governor. Only God made you governor.”
In his speech, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku commended the governor and cabinet members of his administration for what he described as enthronement of peace in the state.
He said his passion for peace and unity has facilitated development initiatives across the length and breadth of the state.
“One legacy that no one can take away from you is the enthronement of peace and stability. Your administration has also ensured the amalgamation of all political parties into one. I pray God that you will finish strong,” he stated.
Also speaking, chairman of the Bayelsa Elders Council and former deputy governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (Rtd), appreciated Governor Diri’s stewardship, which, he noted, had enthroned peace, development and stability since 2020.
He equally commended the Bayelsa governor for his leadership style as well as the construction of the Nembe-Brass road, which he said had restored peace and unity to the area just as cases of sea piracy and kidnapping had drastically reduced.
John-Jonah stated that the senatorial roads in the state were conceived to link the Atlantic Ocean from the three major flanks to enable government harness its potential for the benefit of the people.
Speaking on behalf of the state’s National Assembly Caucus, member representing Ogbia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Mitema Obordor, described six years of Diri’s leadership as visionary, impactful and exceptional governance.
Earlier in his remarks, the State Governor, Senator Douy Diri said this year’s celebration was however devoid of the usual fanfare.
He explained that it was so because the administration was honouring the memory of the departed deputy governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
National Wire reports at the well-attended thanksgiving service, the governor paid tribute to his late deputy, whom he said began the journey with him in 2020.
Senator Diri, who read the only Bible lesson at the service from Psalm 23:1-6, thanked Bayelsans and the other arms of government for their support and solidarity, which he noted accounted for the successes achieved by the administration.
He urged people of the state to continually imbibe the spirit of togetherness, tolerance and reconciliation and work collectively for its development.
He said: “All we need to do is to unite and harness the human and material resources that abound in our state for our collective benefits. Bayelsa is so blessed with oil and gas and so much more.
“Now we are changing the narrative about Bayelsa’s difficult terrain by building roads to open up our hinterland and connecting communities and we are still awarding more contracts.
“God had a plan for bringing me to the APC from the PDP. Let us keep uniting and speak with one voice and we pray that God will bring another God-fearing leader that will perform better than me.”
In a sermon hinged on the faithfulness of God, the Lead Pastor of The Refined People’s Assembly, Daddy-Ken Bitere, said faithfulness was the nature of God, as He is trustworthy and keeps promises with man.
The cleric said if God was given the due recognition and acknowledgement as the source of every success and victory, man will not experience disappointments in life.
He also said God uses man to bring His faithfulness to pass, and that He does that through the government in power to meet the needs of the people through numerous projects across the state.
He prayed that God will continually use Governor Diri to fulfill His promises to Bayelsans and praised him for always acknowledging the supremacy of God.
