By. Kola Oredipe
Heroic feats of great leaders are often expressed in landmark achievements.
Interestingly, not every leader dreams big but a few others, who choose to carry the burden of a people wholeheartedly, are the worthy leaders.
Such leaders undertake unusual endeavours and dared, what many considered impossibilities, leaving legacies behind to mark their shared commitment to real development.
It was an American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, who said, in one of her famous quotes: “If you’re going to live, leave behind a legacy. Make an impact on the world that can never be erased.”
This is true about the performance and impact of the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, by virtue of certain developmental projects embarked upon since assumption of office in 2020.
It is a fact that Bayelsa State has witnessed tremendous progress in various aspects of development across the eight Local Government Areas.
This is a man who understands the key developmental challenges of the people and has demonstrated true leadership to meet the most critical need, which has to do with the opening up of the several riverine communities by roads.
The people at the rural areas particularly, the riverine places, have been yearning for road access to link them to the State Capital and any leader who prioritise such projects remains a true hero and agent of development.
Indeed, these are capital intensive projects and it takes a leader with genuine and great heart to take up some of these projects that have been on the card for over 60 years.
Bayelsans should be celebrating Douye Diri for not abandoning the vision of the founding fathers of the state to link the three senatorial districts by roads.
Gov. Diri inherited from past administrations the three strategic roads including the abandoned Bayelsa East road linking Nembe to Brass Local Government Area. The people of Brass are celebrating Senator Diri and the road coming into the Island.
This governor is building legacy projects with the progress achieved so far on the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road.
He is writing his name in gold for the construction of about 1km Angiama-Oporoma bridge across the “Almighty” River Nun. This is unprecedented and massive!
The completion of the Sagbama-Ekeremor road is a dream come true to many inhabitants of several riverine communities along that stretch from Toru-Orua to Ekeremor main town.
This is etched in history as the people who have been connected by roads will never forget that name, “Douye Diri.”
He has become a hero of Bayelsa State for his lion’s heart and bold step to continue with such gigantic projects.
The economic benefits of these roads would manifest in a few years to come.
The urbanization plan for the State capital Yenagoa is deliberate with the expansion of the city with two new roads from the entrance: the Glorydrive and the Igbogene/AIT-Elebele outer ring road.
In Education, so much is happening at different levels including the change in the secondary education curriculum from mere paper qualification to technical and vocational education where the students acquire various skills before graduating from college.
Already, the government has built four fully furnished Science, Technical and Vocational Colleges in Swali, Ofoni, Sampou and Ayamasa to empower the students with new skills apart from their regular class subjects. The government is committed to building the remaining colleges in the other Council areas.
In the health sector, the expansion in scope of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme to cover every citizen is a great move to achieve universal health coverage along side plans to upgrade Primary Health care facilities across the Local Government Areas.
In this second term of the Prosperity Administration, the recent launch of the development road map tagged, “Assured” Prosperity Agenda, has renewed the commitment of the government to leave a legacy in various sectors.
As the government moves to complete ongoing Commissioners and Legislative quarters, Governor Diri, has announced plans to build housing units for the citizens including the civil servants.
Also, investment in sports development by the Prosperity Government has continued to empower and engage young Bayelsans meaningfully and the proposed construction of a new and modern Stadium in Yenagoa will provide new opportunities to discover and develop promising talents. The stadium will be an iconic structure.
The signing of the State Electricity Law by Governor Diri, will change the fortune of power generation and distribution since the existing system has become unsustainable. This is a commitment to the people and in a matter of time, the reality will be with us.
In this second term, Governor Diri has said he would continue to invest in security to ensure safety of the people and their property.
The government is not relenting to maintain the status of Yenagoa as one of the safest capitals in Nigeria. That’s a fact and this singular profile has been a source of attraction to new investments. The journey to industrialisation is looking very positive.
Indeed, the development of Bayelsa State requires the commitment of all and so, this current administration has demonstrated so much passion and consistency to leave behind great impact.
The legacy projects and programmes have become so visible under a humble, peaceful and genuine leader who is actualising the dreams and vision of the founding fathers of Bayelsa State.
This is a leader who has entrenched a new culture of love, peace, togetherness and good sense of unity among the people devoid of political differences.
In his words, “let’s join hands to build a great Bayelsa State. Development does not know political parties.” A new Bayelsa of shared prosperity is here under the current administration.
And truly, following his antecedents and activities in office, Governor Diri, has proven to be a Landmark Governor!
Oredipe, is Director-General, New Media to the Governor