The Chairman of Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission, BYSIEC, Dr. Peter Singabele has attributed the last seventy years of his life to God’s faithfulness towards him, his family and career.
Speaking ahead of his 70th birthday coming up on Monday, 15th June, 2026, Dr. Singabele said God has showered him and his family with favour, and even in his career as a public servant, describing age 70 as a significant milestone.
He noted that the celebration was significant not just for the fanfare, as he expressed gratitude to God with the theme “Celebration of God’s Faithfulness”, pointing out that he never wanted to mark the day but his children convinced him to observe it, owing to the importance accorded to the celebration.
The former NFF Board member asserted that attaining 70 years is not an easy feat; that some of his age-mates and friends are no longer in existence while some are struggling to survive, adding that celebrating the milestone means a lot to him.
He recalled his one year experience in Mogadishu, Somalia with the United Nations (UN) when they were traveling with Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) for humanitarian services and on two occasions, they were confronted with rough and deadly situations, explaining that he narrowly escaped in one of the attacks by a militant group in Somalia.
While acknowledging God’s factor in his life, Dr. Singabele noted that proper nutrition and moderate exercise play a crucial role in healthy living, maintaining that one of the reasons that has made him strong even at age 70 is his continuous involvement in sports.
According to him, he has learned a lot as a public servant in the State, that the service has impacted positively in his life just as it has impacted the lives of many individuals in the State, particularly in the sports sector.
He explained that his foray into sports administration in Bayelsa State started before the civilian administration in the State, around 1998/1999, when he was appointed as the sole administrator of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, pointing out that his passion for sports led him to form a team called Adaka FC as a way of curbing youth restiveness.
Dr Singabele further explained that some of the players in the team later became players of Bayelsa United in the year 2000 when the team was formed, pointing out that he played a crucial role by initiating the process of forming Bayelsa United under the late DSP Alamieyeseigha administration, thereafter becoming a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
He opined that beyond being a sports administrator, his team, Krusaders FC has become a breeding ground for many coaches in Bayelsa which include; Moses Aduku, Ada Gwegwe and Meremu Okara, adding that Gabriel Biriduba is a product of his team, having won the Prosperity Cup in 2018, then called Restoration Cup.
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