Gov Diri Decries ‘Injustice’ Over Bayelsa’s 8 LGAs, Calls For True Federalism

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has alleged injustice in the distribution of resources, noting that his oil-producing state has only eight local government areas (LGA) while some states have as many as 40 cuncils.

In his goodwill message at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue 2026 held yesterday at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre (ICC), Bauchi, the governor said democracy was fundamentally about the rule of law and justice, anchored on the principles of justice, equity and fairness.

He expressed concern that Nigeria was losing its way towards true democracy because there could be no genuine justice where oil-producing communities and states were treated unfairly.

Diri said the oil industry had become a shadow of what it used to be, arguing that the distribution of proceeds from crude oil and other natural resources should not be the sole definition of what democracy means.

He said the federal government had not done enough to develop oil-producing areas, apart from the activities of oil companies operating in those communities.

According to him, for decades, many local communities had little or no access to the headquarters of oil companies operating in their areas.

He cited the recently completed 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma Bridge as an example, saying the infrastructure had only recently provided access to the headquarters of the Southern Ijaw local government area.

Diri further questioned the fairness of a system in which Bayelsa, with only eight local government areas, shares its resources with states that have more local government areas.

“To my mind, there is total injustice where I have eight local government areas, while some other states have 40 local government areas or more, and the resources of my state are used to be shared to those local government areas,” he said.

He argued that the natural resources being exploited today were largely controlled from Abuja while the communities where the resources were produced continued to face significant developmental challenges.

The governor said Nigeria needed to embrace true federalism if democracy was to thrive.

“Until Nigeria begins to practise true federalism, we will continue to have a form of pseudo-democracy, pseudo-autocracy and, sometimes, even a tyranny of government in this country,” he warned.

Diri said the democracy dialogue provided an opportunity for political leaders, stakeholders and citizens to critically examine the country’s democratic journey and address the challenges undermining good governance.

He called on Nigerians to remain concerned about the future of the country and work collectively towards building a fairer and more equitable society.

“We must all be concerned and work together so that, at the end of the day, our country will be better for us all,” he said.