Diri breaking the ice in Bayelsa’s development trajectory
By now, many discerning Bayelsans would have been imagining what could have been their fate if the Supreme Court had not pronounced its landmark judgement on February 13, 2020 that
- By Chris Eze
By now, many discerning Bayelsans would have been imagining what could have been their fate if the Supreme Court had not pronounced its landmark judgement on February 13, 2020 that brought in Senator Douye Diri as governor of the state. On hindsight, his coming marked a new dawn in the development trajectory of the state, popularly referred to as the “Glory of All Lands.”
Diri was popularly dubbed the ‘Miracle Governor’ on account of the circumstances that brought him to occupy the Creek Haven as the fifth democratically elected governor of Bayelsa State, and many analysts credit him with the feat of a miracle worker on account of the uncommon transformation he has wrought in the state.
Bayelsa is characteristically a swamp-laden state, making infrastructure, particularly road construction, a very challenging project. But, Diri has succeeded in demystifying the myth and the often-choreographed alibi of previous administrations over their reluctance in embarking on the many ambitious projects such as the incumbent governor is doing. The results of the iron-cast determination of the governor are the network of roads his administration has created by tearing through the murky swamps and creating beauty out of an otherwise debilitating terrain.
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Apart from the numerous linkage roads within Yenagoa and environs and in communities in the local government areas of the state, the governor has driven the multi-billion-dollar three senatorial roads aimed at connecting all parts of the state to the state capital, Yenagoa, far beyond expectation.
That of Bayelsa East is already deep into the Atlantic heading towards Brass, the terminal point, while the Western flank is also moving at a furious pace heading past Ekeremor to terminate at Agge, the location of a deep seaport that will highlight the state’s potential in blue economy. The Central senatorial road from Yenagoa to Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government, is perhaps where the governor scored a bull’s eye with the 630-meter Angiama-Oporoma Bridge that ultimately links the Southern Ijaw people to the Yenagoa metropolis.
The completed road, awaiting inauguration by President Tinubu on April 10, 2026, has become the cynosure of all eyes as it is being streamed on social media to showcase what a leader with purpose could achieve for a people hitherto neglected and abandoned.
Indeed, a Daniel came to judgement in Bayelsa and justice is being served in all sectors and different aspects of human endeavor. The governor came prepared to address the major drawbacks on the state’s development aspiration, among which is power infrastructure, providing the elixir in the 60-megawatt power turbine situated at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area - also awaiting inauguration by President Tinubu.
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The power project, which is expected to serve the entire Yenagoa and environs, will no doubt transform the state capital from a supermarket economy it used to be, to attracting major industries that will bolster the state’s internally generated revenue and unlock employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
Speaking on the two signature projects, the road and power turbine, while urging Bayelsans to celebrate the milestone, Governor Diri said they are central to the state’s economic development and transformation.
He described the independent power project as critical to improving electricity supply in the state.
“Power is a major driver of economic growth, and this project is key to our development agenda,” the governor said.
He also underscored the significance of the 630-metre bridge, saying it was a historic milestone for the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
“For over 60 years, our people in Southern Ijaw have had no road access to Yenagoa. This bridge changes that reality. These are legacy projects that will positively impact our people and open up Bayelsa for greater opportunities,” Diri maintained.
So, on Friday, Bayelsans will be in a celebration mood and they have every reason to be as President Tinubu cuts the tape to inaugurate the legacy projects, which will etch the Diri administration permanently in the sands of time in Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
•Eze, a public affairs analyst writes from Yenagoa
