Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, has solicited for collaboration with the Germany to cushion the annual flooding and erosion in the state.
Diri disclosed this on Tuesday while hosting the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Annett Gunenther, and her entourage which included Country representative of UNODC, Oliver Stolpe, at the Governor’s Conference Room, Government House, Yenagoa.
The Governor told his guests that Bayelsa proximity to the atlantic ocean creates annual challenges for the state adding that flooding and erosion have become a menace to the state.
“Because of our closeness to the Atlantic Ocean, we have very huge challenges of flood and erosion, which have impacted the lives and properties of our people over the years. It has become an annual occurrence, and even this year we have been warned that it will be more severe than we saw last year, and I believe that that challenge is beyond the scope of the State Government, and so we have been inviting all our friends and friendly governments from both local and international to help us tackle this challenge of flood and erosion on annual basis.
“And because of where we are located, we also have issues of maritime security which we have been working on Federal Government and all other Embassies to ensure that Bayelsa is not a safe ground for kidnappings.
“For that reason, we established the Community Safety Corps, and for now, we have dealt with a bit of the land component, and though the maritime sector is always more expensive, we are moving towards procuring security logistics to add to the ones we have been using to tackle that area.”
Speaking further , he noted that:”Today, we are hosting the German Ambassador to Nigeria and our friend Oliver Stolpe, Country representative of UNODC, so let me on behalf of the government and the people of Bayelsa State welcome you to Bayelsa State.
“We identify with what you are coming to do in one of our communities in Bayelsa State called Otuan.
“I appreciate you and the Government of Germany for approving funds for the few things you have done to affect the lives of the citizens of this State.
“There is a very cordial relationship between our subnational state of Bayelsa and Germany, and I believe that now that you have come, you are going to strengthen that cordial relationship that we have had over the years.
Meanwhile, Diri who graced the 15th memorial programme of first civilian governor of Old Rivers State, Chief Melford Obiene Okilo, described him a true nationalist.
“I’m delighted to be personally here in this 15th memorial celebration of our dear leader, a nationalist, a father and a sage.
Chief Okilo was beyond Ogbia and Bayelsa State, but he was a nationalist, therefore, he should be celebrated as one. He was part of the people who worked for the creation of the Old Rivers State, and subsequently, Bayelsa State.
The likes of Chief Okilo struggled and abandoned their own comfort for the rest of us, and that is why today, we can call ourselves Governors, Senators, House of Assembly members, and anything that we can call ourselves today.
Subsequently, I hereby direct that the Chief Melford Okilo memorial will be taken over by the Bayelsa State Government. We shall not trivialize the immortalization of our leader to a Clan, and we all know, Chief Okilo belongs to all the clans in Ijaw.
Chief Melford Okilo was one who exuded love for his people. He worked and suffered for his people, and fought against injustice.
Let us as a people and as leaders, always do things that will unite our people, and not to divide us, and things that our people will remember you for even after you have left. Today, we are talking about Chief Melford Okilo because of things that he has done, and not the amount of money that he left in his bank account.
Today, we are gathered here because we remember that Chief Okilo added value to our lives”, Governor Diri stated.
Other dignitaries at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, venue of the memorial include immediate past Deputy Governor, Rtd. Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, former Military Governor of Old Rivers State, Senator Foster Ogola, Senator Barigha Nimi-Amange, political associates and family members.
