Isaac Ombe -Yenagoa
The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) National Chairman , Prof. Iyocha Ayu, has scored Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State high in the area of infrastructural development .
Prof. Ayu said the manner Governor Diri had worked to provide the dividends of democracy for Bayelsans in two years is the way other PDP Governors work in the country .
The PDP national chairman spoke shortly before he commissioned a multi-million Naira media project, The Ernest Ikoli Media Center, in Yenagoa, on Monday, to mark the two years anniversary celebrations of Governor Diri.
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Ayu noted that this was the way PDP governors work to for the masses unlike governors of other political parties who abandoned their states for Abuja .
His words, ” This is how PDP governors work, they work for the people .They don’t leave their states and stay in Abuja as some of those other parties who abandoned their states and stay in Abuja to become chairmen of their parties”
Describing governance as ‘service’, Ayu pointed out that PDP governors are elected with the mandate to serve the people well.
“Our governors are elected with mandates, and that mandate is to work for the people they govern”, added the PDP national chairman who especially thanked governor Diri. ” for giving service to the people of Bayelsa state.”
Ayu who also commended all PDP governors across the country for making the party proud noted that their exceptional service to the people led to the recent victory of the party at the Federal Capital Territory ( FTC) elections into the council areas.
“The governors’ works have also made Nigerians to know that PDP will be back at the federal level.
“It is your work that is giving confidence to Nigerian people that PDP is coming back after staying out of power for six years now
“Nigerians now know that members of PDP including their governors are determined to serve this country and to unite the country
“It is your work across the states that have made it possible for the people of the FCT to give us such marvelous victory in the last FCT elections” noted Ayu who assured Nigerians the victory at the FCT will be his first as more victories of the party are on the way.
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” I want to assure that that is my first victory” said Ayu who also paid glowing tributes the Late media icon , Enest Ikoli whose name was used to immortalize the media center .
Ayu who also described himself as a one time journalist with the defunct Daily Times newspapers for about six months recalled that the late Ikoli was not only a media icon but a freedom fighter.
” Ikoli was a major fighter of independence
” He did politics with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and other prominent politicians of his time
In another development , while receiving several defectors from the All Progressive Party( APC) to the PDP in a mammoth ceremony in Yenagoa , Prof. Ayu who described them as to have missed the road by joining other political parties earlier commended them for retracing steps.
Further commenting them for their courage, he advised them to work with governor Douye Diri to deliver more of the dividends of democracy.
“Some of you missed the road, now you are back. Work with the governor. We will treat all of you fairly,” he assured them.
Earlier in his speech at the event the commissioning of the gigantic media center, Governor Diri recalled several incidents which spurred the state government to go for a media center.
The ugly incidents that bedeviled the old radio station that later gave birth to the new center, according to him, included a fire incident, rainstorm and an attack on staffers of the station by hoodlums.
He informed that the travails of the state owned media practitioners made it necessary to embark on building an edifice of the type being commissioned.
“We looked at the history surrounding this complex and from our state here , we had one of the early journalists who became Editor of the Daily Times and whose contribution to journalism and the media is acknowledged all over Nigeria.
“We decided to name this complex in the name of this veteran journalist who hails from Bayelsa , precisely Nembe.
“These were situations that necessitated the decision to put up this master piece . We had some natural disasters that affected almost all our media operations .
Also in his welcome address, Mr. Ayibaina Duba the commissioner for information, Orientation, and strategy lauded governor Diri for keeping to his words to alleviate the pains of all state media practicers through the provision of the complex.
“Today, the first phase of this project which consist of over 248 office space , a library, conference halls, six studios, ICT Center, printing press as well as restaurant will all house the Bayelsa state owned radio, Television station as well as the newspaper cooperation which is now ready for commissioning .
“The second phase of the project which includes procurement , installation and commissioning of a brand new broadcast equipment for the television and radio station as well as a high tech printing press .
Duba informed that the ministry also adopted information internalisation which initials that government communication must target our immediate environment and the Bayelsa public first as the implementation of these policy also require effective and effective media organs .
Several PDP governors and senators were in attendance including Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Wike of Rivers, Emanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Otom of Benue state and others. While senators in attendance included Seriake Dickson, James Manager. While House of Representatives members included Chief Fred Agbedi, Fred Obua .