Diri promises to leave infrastructure devt as legacy

• Institutes Ernest Ikoli annual lecture

Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has said he is determined to leave lasting legacies in infrastructure development, as he considers it a rare privilege to govern the state.

Diri stated this, yesterday, during a gala night organised by the state government in honour of members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.

The event rounded off the three-day 20th All-Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) held in the state capital. The governor said that he treats issues of development of the state seriously, as he is aware that, constitutionally, he is allowed only two terms in office.

He assured that, with his deputy, they will keep doing their best in the remaining three years for Bayelsans to feel the impact of their service to the state and to the country.

He said: “For us, it is a rare privilege to serve our people. Opportunities like this do not come often. By the Constitution of Nigeria, I am barred from contesting again as governor of Bayelsa.

While responding to remarks by Eze Anaba, NGE’s President, Diri approved the request to institute a yearly lecture series to honour and immortalise a foremost nationalist and pioneer editor of Daily Times, the late Ernest SeseiIkoli, an indigene of Bayelsa State, beginning from 2025.

He also granted an appeal by the guild’s President for two interns at the state-owned Niger Delta Television (NDTV), who missed out when the governor directed the employment of 13 of their colleagues when he visited the station last year.

In his address, Anaba expressed gratitude to Diri for being a perfect host and for recognising the essential roles editors play in shaping society.