Bayelsa gov, Douye Diri gets accolades from Bauchi Emir

By Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

 As Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state visits Bauchi state twice in Six months, the paramount ruler in the state, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, commends his developmental strides in the oil rich state.

Governor Diri had paid a visit to his Bauchi State counterpart , Sen. Bala Mohammed, last February when he paid homage to the Emir.

The recent  visit  Sunday was however described  as Sallah homage to the Emir who commended Diri for embarking on projects that are changing the face of his state and positively impacting on the people.

The Emir who says he was impressed with the reports of the Bayelsa governor’s performance  since he took the mantle of leadership  in less than two years listed some of the projects embarked upon by the Diri administration to include the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, Glory Drive Road, a gigantic media complex for the state newspaper and broadcast organisations as well as the 60-metric tonne cassava and starch factory among others.

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Governor Diri , on an Hausa attire, was at the Emir’s palace in company of his host, governor Mohammed, disclosed that Diri was earlier conferred  during his February, with   the title of Wakilin Kudu of Bauchi, which means “brave and courageous representative of the Bauchi emirate in the South.”  noted a report sent in by the Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah.

The Bayelsa governor became the emir’s subject in February this year following his conferment with the title of Wakilin Kudu of Bauchi, which means “brave and courageous representative of the Bauchi emirate in the South.”

His words : “I remember vividly receiving you in this palace on February 21, 2021. That visit was very memorable. In recognition of your sterling qualities, the Emirate Council considered it worthy to confer on you a title that is reserved for brave, fearless and trusted personalities as the Wakilin Kudu of Bauchi. I congratulate you again.

“I must express our delight on this second visit to Bauchi and indeed the palace. We would not get tired of receiving His Excellency as long as he does not get tired of visiting his good friend, colleague and a Bayelsan by extension, Senator Bala Mohammed.

“It appears the two governors consult themselves on a daily basis when it comes to provision of the dividends of democracy. During your last visit, I enumerated some of the projects of your colleague-governor in Bauchi. Since that visit, there are many new projects with most of them completed and some ongoing.

“I have equally noticed with excitement the giant strides of your performance in Bayelsa State. Let me enumerate some of your projects such as the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma road, proposed commissioning of a 60-metric tonne cassava and starch factory at Ebedebiri, ongoing Igbogene-AIT/Elebele outer ring road, ongoing Glory Drive road, the road linking Onopa community to the new GRA and the Royal Castle Hotel, the Igbedi community road among other projects.”, added Alhaji Adamu who  prayed God to bless the Bayelsa governor with more wisdom for greater impact in governance.

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Elated  Governor Diri , had in his speech earlier, told the Emir that his second visit to his palace  was  a Sallah homage to the monarch as one of his subjects as it was still within the Ramadan season, even as his principal visit to the state was for a PDP Governors meeting.

Governor Diri also used the event to recall how Governor Mohammed  assisted him during his election battle.

“As one of your subjects, I came to see my royal father so that he can pray for me and to tap from his wisdom.

“For my brother governor, let me disclose that one of the key persons that engineered the process that made it possible for me to be governor was Senator Bala Mohammed. After finishing his assignment as chairman of the national campaign committee for my election, Senator Mohammed stayed back in Yenagoa for about another one week until after the election when the fake results were announced. He only grudgingly left Yenagoa back to Bauchi”,  disclosed. Diri  who recalled that “but because the hand of God was upon me, the results were miraculously overturned in my favour and that of my party. So, I cherish the relationship with my senior colleague in the Senate and even as governors because he was in the Senate before me and became governor before me too. I and the people of Bayelsa appreciate you for all your support.”

Going into memory lane , the Bayelsa  governor further recalled that apart from his cordial relationship with Governor Mohammed, the Ijaw nation and Bauchi had a long history of fraternal relations, stressing that  ” this dated back to the days of the former Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa, and Ijaw political leaders like the late Harold Dappa-Biriye and Senator Melford Okilo.

Governor Diri commended his Bauchi counterpart for his performance in office, saying everyone he interacted with since his arrival spoke of how well he had performed.

“But because the hand of God was upon me, the results were miraculously overturned in my favour and that of my party. So, I cherish the relationship with my senior colleague in the Senate and even as governors because he was in the Senate before me and became governor before me too. I and the people of Bayelsa appreciate you for all your support.”

 

While commending his Bauchi colleague  for his performance in office, saying governor Mohammed has made serious impact across the length  and  breath of the state as revealed by the governed .

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“Everyone I interacted with  since my arrival spoke of how well he had performed” Diri told the Emir.

Governor Bala Mohammed who gave reasons for their visit stated that they were in the palace to appreciate the emir and the emirate council for the title conferred on governor Diri during his last visit to the emirate.

He described  Senator Diri as a politician par excellence, Mohammed said Bayelsa was a second home as he always felt like he was in Bauchi whenever he was there.