I’m Laying Foundation For Bayelsa’s Industrialisation – Diri

Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri has said he is laying the foundation for the industrialisation of the state, noting that his political opponents talking about industrialisation of the state have no idea what it takes to achieve it.

Governor Diri said rather than politicise it, his administration was laying a solid foundation to position the state for industrialisation by investing hugely in road infrastructure and working towards stabilising power.

He said the state government had already gone into a partnership with a private firm to rehabilitate and expand the capacity of the gas turbine at Imiringi in Ogbia local government area.

The governor spoke on Saturday at Amassoma at the palace of the monarch of Ogboin clan, King Oweipa Jones-Ere, as he rounded off his four-day re-election campaigns in communities across Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

He averred that while it is the responsibility of government to provide the enabling environment through the provision of basic infrastructure, the private sector partnership and investment were equally important in engendering a viable economy.

Diri stated that it was not the sole duty of the state government to industrialise the state.

He said: “Our state is yet to industrialise and still heavily dependent on the government. It will take some time for us to be an industrialised state.

“A lot of people think it is the government that actually industrialises a state. A thousand times no. Government only provides the enabling environment for private capital and partnership with the government to industrialise. By God’s grace, we will get there.”

The governor thanked King Jones-Ere for his leadership style that ensured peace in the kingdom that is host to the state’s pioneer tertiary institution, Niger Delta University at Amassoma.

 The spokesperson of the council of chiefs, chief Albert Karikarisei, the monarch congratulated the governor for achieving almost a hundred per cent success in his first tenure and prayed that his journey to the second tenure would be smooth.

The highpoint of the governor’s visit was the presentation of a giant umbrella, symbolizing the king’s protection on the governor all through his campaigns.

The governor earlier visited HRH Godwill Akedesuo, Birinanaowei of Alomu and Acting Amananaowei of Amassoma as well as inaugurated the remodelled community town hall, which is a constituency project of Mr. Bonny Ayah, the member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 1 in the House of Assembly.

The governor’s campaign trail moved to the Amassoma civic centre where it was received by a mammoth crowd of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), members and supporters.