From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

As the 2023 Bayelsa state governorship race gathers momentum in Bayelsa state, the Director, New Media to Governor Douye Diri, Dr. Kola Oredipe has asserted that the Governor has done much to earn a second term in office.

He made the declaration at a parley with members of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council held at the FCC Secretariat in Yenagoa.

Dr. Oredipe emphasized that within the last three years in office, the Governor had embarked on key projects and infrastructure such as roads, education, security and welfare of civil servants and pensioners.

He stated that with over 85 % in performance so far, Governor Diri is poised for victory and get a second term in the November 11th, 2023 gubernatorial elections in the State.

“I can tell you that if election is conducted today, Governor Douye Diri will win in all the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State regardless of where the other candidates come from”.

“The project Bayelsa is very key to him and he feels very strongly about it. He restored peace and order to the State on assumption of office. Infrastructure wise, roads, education, sports, empowerment and different skills acquisition programmes, he has done so much in all these areas.

“Wherever you go, everybody is singing Governor Douye Diri for second term. Having being a public servant, a teacher, as a private businessman and rich experience in politics: Commissioner, Deputy Chief of Staff, Principal Executive Secretary, House of Reps member and Senator and now Governor, it’s not surprising that he has been able to achieve a lot,” Dr. Oredipe said.

The Director, New Media pointed out that with accomplishments in critical projects such as the Nembe Unity Bridge, Elebele Bridge, Imiringi Bridge, and ongoing construction works on the Nembe-Brass Road, the Yenagoa-Oporoma road as well as accreditation for the Bayelsa State College of Education, Sagbama and the Niger Delta University, the Governor has fast tracked the development of the State.

Dr. Oredipe said with the prevailing peace across the State more investments were underway to access the Blue Economy through the Ocean via the three Senatorial Roads which will give access to the Sea.

Responding to questions from the Correspondents, the Director New Media said Governor Diri had directed the redesign, reconstruction and rehabilitation of some internal roads with drainages as works would soon commence on such roads such as Okaka, PDP and others.

On the issue of perennial flood disaster in the State, he said the Governor had created a Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control to prepare adequate response in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment to open up blocked drains, canals and water channels. He explained that the Administration had committed funds to address the erosion threat at Obogoro community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

On Tourism, he stated that the Governor was considering constructing a new recreational center in Yenagoa to enable revelers and fun seekers have a place to relax, positing that there was thriving nightlife in the Bayelsa State capital.

On the report by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission which was released recently in London, Dr. Oredipe commended the immediate past Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson for initiating the idea of the Commission to stop the Environmental genocide in the State.

He said the report of the Commission highlighted that Bayelsa State is the most polluted area in the world due to the negligence of the multinational oil companies. He stated that the findings of the Commission were shocking as the State experience a spill every 12 hours for the 14 years it covered, accounting for 25 % of oil spills in Nigeria between 2006 and 2022 which is 3508 out of 13,251 spills, urging the oil companies to clean up the polluted sites.

The Director New Media was accompanied to the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on National Dailies, Mr. Osaro Okhomina and amongst others.