Diri praises Abacha for creating Bayelsa and freeing Ijaw people

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has called the late military ruler, Sani Abacha, the man who "freed" the Ijaw people from oppression by creating Bayelsa State in 1996.

Mr Diri spoke on Thursday night during a dinner and awards ceremony celebrating the state’s 30th anniversary in Yenagoa.

The governor noted that while people might see Mr Abacha’s legacy differently, his action to form Bayelsa from parts of the old Rivers State is significant for the Ijaw people.

"If at every point in my remarks I keep calling him, it is because of what God used him to do for the Ijaw ethnic nationality," Mr Diri said at the event held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House.

"General Abacha might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he is the one who freed us from oppression.

"He freed us from injustice and gave a homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states, making us minority in some."

Mr Diri said Bayelsans should always be grateful to Mr Abacha for creating the state on 1 October 1996. He mentioned that the late military leader was represented at the event by his son, Abba Abacha, and daughter, Fatima Abacha.

"Please take our appreciation and gratitude back home to your mother," he told the Abacha family.

The governor spoke as Bayelsa celebrated three decades of statehood with a four-day event called “Celebrating Legacies,” which concluded with the dinner and the presentation of state honours to 63 individuals and groups.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was among those honoured, dedicated his award to his late political mentor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who made him deputy governor of Bayelsa State.

Mr Jonathan noted that the creation of Bayelsa has brought many benefits to its people, even though some young people have concerns about the state’s achievements after 30 years.

"Although we have not reached where we are supposed to be, I am happy where we are. I am happy that Bayelsa State was created, and we have gained tremendously," he said.

The former president also thanked Mr Abacha for creating Bayelsa.

"Bayelsans will always remain grateful to late Gen. Sani Abacha who made it possible for Bayelsa to be among the last six states he created," he said.

Mr Jonathan praised Mr Diri for organising the anniversary and for recognising those who helped in the state’s creation and growth.

Defending the significance of the anniversary, Mr Diri said Bayelsa has made great strides since its creation when infrastructure was very limited.

He pointed out that the state has grown from having no tertiary institution to having over five universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

He also recalled that Bayelsa had only the single-lane Mbiama-Yenagoa road at its start, saying the state now boasts an expanding road network, dualised highways, and three senatorial roads linking different parts of the state.

He congratulated the award recipients, saying they are part of the state’s legacy for their contributions.