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Tag: Gov. Douye Diri

  • COVID-19: Diri imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Bayelsa

    COVID-19: Diri imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Bayelsa

    Bayelsa Gov. Douye Diri has imposed a five-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state as part of measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to a statement signed by Freston Akpor, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Information and Orientation, who is also a member of the Bayelsa Task Force on COVID-19, the 7.00p.m. to 6.00a.m. curfew begins on Sunday (April 19).

    Akpor said the curfew was to reinforce the ban on social gathering, particularly gatherings at night clubs, eateries and nocturnal worship centres.

    He urged security personnel to ensure compliance by the state residents.

  • COVID-19: Bayelsa residents laud Gov. Diri’s food items distribution

    COVID-19: Bayelsa residents laud Gov. Diri’s food items distribution

    Residents of Yenagoa have commended Gov. Douye Diri for distribution of food items to Eight local government areas of the state, to cushion the economic  impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the people.

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    A cross section of residents gave the commendation in separate  interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday, against the backdrop of the state government’s distribution of food items.

     

    According to Mrs Victoria Aweilayemi, a civil servant,  the gesture has shown that the governor is poised to wipe away the suffering of Bayelsa people.

     

    She said since his emergence through the Supreme Court judgment, the governor have been putting smiles on their faces.

     

    “Since he came on board, salaries of civil servants, pensioners are being paid as at when due, and that gratuities of retirees have been paid in full,’’ she said.

     

    A trader from Kpansia, said people never expected that the governor would  keep to his words in this trying times.

     

    “For him to even put preventive measures in place, shows his genuine love for the people of Bayelsa and their safety.

     

    “I’m not a politician but I bet you, the man might take us beyond our expectations. I want to also appeal to the governor to order the suspension of all various taxes in the state for now.

     

    “People are very hungry for now, so, at least after this time, it can commence fully, because these are trying time for everyone in Bayelsa, and all over the world,” he said.

     

    Dr John Ebizimir, a residents and  lecturer at the Niger Delta University (NDU),  commended the governor for the donation of food items to the people.

     

    He also lauded the governor for  reducing  school fees for students at NDU, which he described as  a welcome development as fees at the state owned University was on the high side.

     

    Ebizimor, implored the governor to prioritise Bayelsa people and work  for the benefit of all, irrespective of party affiliations.

     

    A beneficiary of the food items, Mrs Rose Okori, a fish farmer, said the governor has shown that he has his people at heart.

     

    She urged him to continue with his good works and  that God will always reward him.

     

    “I believe the governor will take us very far, as a state. Most of the things we don’t have he will bring to us. I want all people to work with him because he is a good man from the origin,” she said.

     

    A Chieftain of the APC, in Bayelsa who preferred anonymity, expressed confidence that the governor would perform beyond the people’s imagination.

     

    “I am satisfied with efforts the governor is putting in place to prevent the Covid-19 disease. I want him not to play politics with the well-being of the people, as that is the only way he could earn their support,’’ he said.

  • Cars purchase: APC kicks against Bayelsa Assembly’s approval of N2.9bn for Gov. Diri

    Cars purchase: APC kicks against Bayelsa Assembly’s approval of N2.9bn for Gov. Diri

    The Bayelsa chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the state House of Assembly for the approval of N2.9 billion loan to Gov. Douye Diri to purchase cars.

    The Publicity Secretary of APC in Bayelsa, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, expressed the party’s position while reacting to the approval in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Thursday.

    Mr Abranhama Ingobere, Speaker, Bayelsa House of Assembly, who announced the decision of the House at Wednesday’s plenary said that the loan from commercial banks had a three-year tenure

    Ingobere explained that the loan would be deployed to purchase operational vehicles for the governor, his deputy and top officials of Bayelsa government.

    Buokoribo, however, described the move by Diri as self serving, insensitive when the state was yet to meet outstanding obligations to civil servants and pensioners.

    “The decision of Sen. Diri to take a bank loan of N2.9 billion for the purpose of buying “operational vehicles for the governor, his deputy and other top government functionaries is regrettable

    ” Coming less than three weeks as governor, this move is unsympathetic. Sadly, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the loan request.

    “Diri is taking the loan at a time when civil servants and pensioners in the state have not been paid.

    “This is a continuation of the frivolities of the PDP government of Dickson; a major reason the people of the state roundly rejected them at the poll.

    “This cannot be the government that the people of Bayelsa State deserve. It cannot be the government the people voted for,” Buokoribo said.

    He recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government came to power through the Feb. 13 Supreme Court decision that nullified the victory of APC’s David Lyon.

    “Legally, Douye Diri is the governor of Bayelsa State, but in the hearts and minds of our people, he is illegitimate. He was not the one they voted for.

    “He will bear the burden of illegitimacy throughout his tenancy at Creek Haven, Government House, Yenagoa,” he said.

    The Assembly had  in Feb. 2017 approved a loan request of N3 billion by Ex-Gov. Seriake Dickson for the purchase of cars for his use and 24 Assembly members.(NAN)

  • Bayelsa: Diri promises useful programmes

    Bayelsa: Diri promises useful programmes

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has promised useful programmes for the state to rekindle the hope of the people.

    Diri was sworn in as the fifth governor on Feb.14 sequel to the Feb.13 Supreme Court judgment that sacked the erstwhile governor-elect David Lyon.

    Diri made his administration’s direction during a state-wide broadcast monitored by NAN in Yenagoa.

    According to him, victory in a political contest is not an end in itself but as a means to foster peace, stability and development in all spheres.

    He emphasised the need to make life more meaningful by creating an enabling environment that would engender economic activities and provide employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the state.

    The governor acknowledged outstanding issues arising from the implementation of his predecessor’s policies and expressed his determination to accommodate fresh perspectives for the good of Bayelsa.

    “We recognise that there are outstanding issues from the implementation of the Restoration agenda, of which I am a principal proponent and participant.

    “As in every family, there will always be reasons to disagree. There may be those who feel that some things could have been done better or differently. As humans, we remain fallible.

    “Let us put past grievances behind us. Let us appreciate that governance is a continuum and as the dynamics change, we will accommodate fresh perspectives.

    “The important thing is to continue to find reason to agree and work together for the good of Bayelsa,” Diri said.

    According to Diri, the time has come for all Bayelsa people to join hands with his administration to frontally address the myriad of challenges the people face, including poverty and ignorance.

    He said such setbacks did not discriminate on the basis of gender, political party, religion and age as no one was immune from their adverse impact.

    “This is not the time to cloak ourselves in party colours. The work at hand is far too urgent and important for us to be so distracted.

    “Our common challenges including poverty and ignorance, do not discriminate on the basis of gender, party, religion and age.

    “No one can be immune from the adverse implication of their impact. Therefore, our response must be calculated, coherent and united.

    “We extend a hand of fellowship to all stakeholders and progressive-minded individuals to join hands with us to consolidate the building of the Bayelsa of our dreams; a place we can all be proud to call home.

    “We also send a strong message of solidarity to the people of Bayelsa in the Diaspora; the future is brighter,” he said.

    Diri expressed concern about the recent attack on the Justices of the Supreme Court, particularly the attack on Justice Mary Odili, in the discharge of their constitutional functions.

    Describing the attack as a desecration of a national institution, the governor saluted the courageous Apex Court justices in their quest to uphold democratic principles.

    He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for not yielding to the pressure to interfere with the legal process as well as his legal team for putting up a sterling performance.(NAN)