Don’t despair, Diri tells citizens as Bayelsa holds thanksgiving

Jonathan, Dickson, Jonah seek support for flood victims
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has urged people of the state not to be daunted in the face of challenges caused by devastating floods.

Speaking during the 11th yearly thanksgiving of the state at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene, Diri commended the people for turning out en masse for the event despite being displaced and rendered homeless by the floods.

The state’s helmsman commended the resilience of the people that he noticed as he traversed the length and breadth of the state to sympathise with victims and expressed optimism that better days were ahead.

Diri lauded former President, Goodluck Jonathan, his predecessor in office, Seriake Dickson, Pastor Paul Enenche and all who made sacrifices to be part of the year’s thanksgiving.

He said: “The irony is that since the floods came, I have been traversing communities and visiting the people across all the councils. I have had the privilege of knowing another dimension of grace in the life of our great people. They are resilient, tenacious, courageous, joyous, and full of unexampled charity and thankfulness. Wherever I visited to empathise with the people, I left more edified and energised.

“Out of the little that they manage to rescue from their farms, they have given me provision of foodstuff. It is the authentic generous Ijaw spirit, which looks out for each other. I have never been more proud of our people than at this time.

“Indeed, if there is a time that we need to give thanks, it is now. The Bible declares that those who know their God will be strong and they will do exploits. We only need to reflect on February 13, 2020 to know that we serve a mighty God.

The same God who delivered us from COVID-19 surely will also deliver us from this flood.”

In his remarks, Jonathan appreciated Dickson for building the Ecumenical Centre and instituting the annual thanksgiving, saying as a people we can achieve nothing without God.

He also lauded Governor Diri for continuing the thanksgiving, saying his administration has made God a priority and will always receive divine blessings.

On the issue of the ravaging floods, Dr. Jonathan joined the call for the Federal Government to assist the state in the recovery process, saying he was optimist that, given the efforts he had made alongside other leaders, help will come from the centre.

He said: “I do not want to overemphasise the disaster that has befallen us. Everybody is an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) in Bayelsa State. I have discussed with the President and Vice President and I believe help will come.”

In their goodwill messages, Dickson and his then deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), emphasized the need for the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state to mitigate the effects of the flood.

Delivering a sermon, Pastor Paul Eneche of the Dunamis International Church praised the people for coming out to praise God despite the difficulty times they face.

He likened their situation to that of the people of God in the past like Paul and Silas who praised God in difficult moments and were blessed.

He prayed for God’s blessings on the state, especially now that the people were going through the challenges occasioned by the floods.