Bayelsa Elders Laud Buhari Over National Honours For Sylva, 5 Others

Elders from Bayelsa State have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring five indigenes of the state including the Azikel Group president, Dr Eruani Azibapu and the minister of state for petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, with national awards saying they deserved the awards.

Buhari conferred Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Dr Eruani Azibapu, for his leading role in the nation’s private sector and his invaluable contribution towards the reforms in the nation’s energy sector.

The minister of state for petroleum resources, Chief Timipre Sylva was awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger  (CON), the former chief of staff to Governor Douye Diri, Chief Benson Agadaga, Member of The Order of The Federal Republic (MFR), 2nd vice president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Nengi James, Member of the Order of the Niger (OON) and First military administrator of Rivers State and past chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Papa-Piriye Diette Spiff, Commander of The Order of The Federal Republic (CFR), were honored for their services to their fatherland.

Azibapu, according to a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa by the Bayelsa Elders led by Senator Nimi Barigha-Amnge, was recognised by President Buhari for his invaluable contribution towards the reforms in the nation’s energy sector.

He said Dr Eruani is a celebrated entrepreneur, whose exemplary conducts and commitment towards the new industrialisation of Nigeria depicts the resilience spirit which must be imbibed by all Nigerians to surmount challenges to instill the much awaited industrial and infrastructural development in Nigeria.

He lauded the Azikel chief executive, who is also the youngest Nigerian recipient of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), stressing that aggregate output from the Azikel Refinery and others would not only guarantee self-sufficiency of refined petroleum products but will also reverse the nation’s status from being net importer to net exporter of refined petroleum products.

He commended President Buhari for recognising the efforts of Chief Timipre Sylva and others from the Bayelsa East senatorial district for their efforts in national development. “The national acknowledgement is a testament to your commitment and immense contributions to the nation especially your giant revolutions in the oil and gas sectors as Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum resources,” he said.