The Publisher of the Niger Delta Herald Newspapers, Francis Dufugha, has accused the Bayelsa State Government under Governor Douye Diri of failing to meet the expectations of the people, calling for greater accountability, transparency and improved delivery of public services.
Dufugha made the allegations on Wednesday at the NUJ Press Centre, Yenagoa, during a press conference titled, “A Press Conference on the Failure of Governance in Bayelsa State.”
He said the press conference was convened to draw public attention to what he described as growing concerns over governance, education, healthcare, infrastructure, electricity, unemployment, abandoned projects and the management of public resources in the state.
Declaring that he had come “in peace” but would not remain silent, Dufugha said the media had a responsibility to question government and hold public officials accountable.
“I have not come to praise the government. I have not come to massage the ego of the governor. I have not come to decorate failure with grammar. I have come to speak for the people,” he said.
He stressed that Bayelsa State belonged to its people and not to Governor Douye Diri, the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress or any political godfather.
“Our loyalty is not to Douye Diri. Our loyalty is to Bayelsa,” he declared. Questions Over the “Prosperity” Agenda Dufugha questioned the impact of the administration’s “Prosperity” agenda on ordinary Bayelsans, particularly unemployed graduates, students, traders, farmers and residents of rural communities.
He challenged the government to demonstrate tangible improvements in the lives of citizens rather than relying on political slogans.
“Do not tell us about prosperity. Show us prosperity. Government is not a television commercial. Government is about results,” he said.
He argued that as an oil-producing state receiving federal allocations, derivation revenue and other interventions, Bayelsa should be experiencing stronger economic and human development.
He therefore called for greater investment in job creation, healthcare, education, agriculture, human capital development and economic diversification.
Dufugha Questions Bayelsa’s Power Investment
A major issue raised at the press conference was electricity, particularly the state’s investment in the 60MW gas-turbine power project. Dufugha questioned the level of public expenditure on the power project and demanded greater transparency over the total cost of the turbine, associated infrastructure and the actual amount of electricity being generated and distributed.
He said Bayelsans deserved to know how much public money had been committed to the project and whether the investment was delivering value commensurate with the resources expended.
According to him, it was unacceptable for a state that had invested billions of naira in power infrastructure to still have communities outside the state capital struggling with inadequate electricity supply.
He particularly questioned why improved power availability appeared to be concentrated around Yenagoa when residents in other Local Government Areas continued to experience serious electricity challenges.
“If billions have been spent on a power project, Bayelsans have a right to ask: how much was spent, what is the actual capacity, how much power is being generated and who is benefiting from it?” he asked. Dufugha said the issue was not opposition to government investment in electricity, but the need for transparency, accountability and equitable distribution of the benefits of such investment.
Dufugha Raises Concern Over Road Safety
The publisher also drew attention to the death of Isaac Ombe in a motor accident at Toru-Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area. He described Ombe’s death as a reminder of the dangers faced by residents travelling on the state’s roads and questioned the quality and supervision of road construction, road maintenance and the availability of emergency medical services for accident victims.
He said Ombe’s death should not become another incident that disappears from public attention after a few days.
“His death should provoke questions. His death should provoke action. His death should force government to look at the conditions under which Bayelsans travel every day,” he said.
Demands Answers on Cancer Centre
Dufugha also demanded explanations concerning the proposed cancer treatment centre associated with the late mother of former Governor Seriake Dickson.
He called on the government and relevant authorities to provide information on the status of the project, funding, expenditure, equipment and the current value and ownership of any assets associated with it.
“Where is the cancer centre?” he asked, demanding transparency over what happened to the project and any funds mobilised for its execution.
He said Bayelsans should not continue travelling outside the state for specialised medical treatment when the state had previously been promised a world-class cancer facility.
Education Sector Under Pressure On education, Dufugha expressed concern over disruptions in the state’s tertiary institutions, including the universities and Bayelsa State Polytechnic.
He said industrial disputes involving academic staff could undermine the future of students and the development of the state.
“You cannot build a prosperous Bayelsa by destroying the confidence of its students,” he said.
He called on the state government to urgently resolve disputes affecting tertiary institutions and ensure that students did not become victims of administrative and political disagreements.
Calls for Better Healthcare
Dufugha also questioned the capacity of government hospitals to provide emergency, diagnostic, surgical and specialised medical services.
He argued that Bayelsa, as an oil-producing state, should have the capacity to provide quality healthcare rather than forcing residents to seek treatment in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and outside the country.
“Oil-producing Bayelsa should not be medically dependent on other states,” he said.
Accuses Government of Prioritising Politics The publisher further criticised what he described as the increasing prominence of political calculations, defections, endorsements, party meetings and preparations for the 2027 elections. He argued that ordinary Bayelsans were more concerned about jobs, healthcare, education, electricity, security, agriculture and economic opportunities than political realignments.
According to him, government should concentrate on issues affecting the daily lives of citizens.
“Stop Treating Critics as Enemies” Dufugha urged the Diri administration to stop viewing criticism as an attack on the state or the Ijaw people.
He said journalists, civil society organisations and citizens had the right to demand explanations from government. “Criticising Governor Diri is not criticising Bayelsa. Questioning his government is not an attack on the Ijaw people. Demanding accountability is not treason,” he said.
He identified bad governance, corruption, waste, impunity, abandoned projects and unemployment as threats to the state’s development.
“The Buck Stops at the Governor’s Desk” Dufugha said Governor Diri must accept responsibility for the performance of his administration, arguing that the governor could not claim credit when government succeeded while distancing himself from failures.
“The buck stops at your desk,” he said. He added that his criticism was not motivated by personal interests or a desire for political appointments or government contracts. “I am not fighting for a government position. I am not asking for an appointment. I am not asking for a contract. I am not asking for money. I am asking for good governance,” he said.
The Pen Is Not for Sale Dufugha also reaffirmed the commitment of the Niger Delta Herald Newspapers to investigative and critical journalism. He said the newspaper would continue to report government achievements where deserved but would also expose failures where necessary.
“We will not turn our newspaper into a government bulletin. We will not turn journalism into sycophancy. We will not sell the conscience of the media for political patronage. The pen is not for sale,” he declared.
He urged Bayelsans to remain vigilant and demand accountability from public officials, stressing that public resources belonged to the people.
“Bayelsa Is Bigger Than Every Political Personality” Concluding, Dufugha said Governor Diri had an opportunity to change the narrative by opening government records to public scrutiny, improving healthcare and education, addressing infrastructure challenges, expanding electricity access and creating employment opportunities. “Bayelsa is bigger than you. Bayelsa is bigger than me. Bayelsa is bigger than PDP. Bayelsa is bigger than APC. Bayelsa is bigger than every political personality,” he said.
He added: “We will continue to speak. We will continue to ask questions. We will continue to demand accountability. Not because we hate Governor Diri, but because we love Bayelsa more than we fear anybody in government.”
Dufugha ended with the declaration that framed the press conference: “I come in peace, but I will not be silent.”