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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that his home state of Bayelsa will forever owe a debt of gratitude to the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, for carving out a homogeneous Ijaw state from the old Rivers State in 1996.
Jonathan stated this during an award ceremony and gala night held in Yenagoa on Thursday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa State’s creation.
Speaking after receiving an honor at the event, the former president dedicated his award to his late political mentor and boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who introduced him to active politics by picking him as his deputy governor.
Jonathan addressed skepticism among younger generations regarding the state’s milestone, affirming that Bayelsa has achieved remarkable growth over the past three decades despite existing challenges.
“Although we have not reached where we are supposed to be, I am happy where we are. I am happy that Bayelsa State was created, and we have gained tremendously. Most people might not know, we have gained tremendously following the creation of the state,” he stated.
“Bayelsans will always remain grateful to late Gen. Sani Abacha who made it possible for Bayelsa to be among the last six states he created,” Jonathan added.
He praised Governor Douye Diri for organizing the commemorative event and recognizing key figures who fought for the state’s establishment and development.
In his address, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, similarly paid tribute to General Abacha, expressing appreciation on behalf of the entire Ijaw nation for establishing the state on October 1, 1996.
Governor Diri stated that the late military ruler deserves continuous praise for liberating the Ijaw people from systemic marginalization and socio-political oppression.
He explained that his repeated public acknowledgments of Abacha were deliberate, noting that while the late ruler remains a controversial figure nationally, he holds a distinct place of honor in Bayelsa’s history.
“If at every point in my remarks I keep calling him, it is because of what God used him to do for the Ijaw ethnic nationality. As I said yesterday, General Abacha might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he is the one who freed us from oppression,” Diri said.
“He freed us from injustice and gave a homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states, and making us minority in some.”
The late Abacha, Jonathan, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, and former military administrators of the state—including the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni (rtd), Police Commissioner Habu Daura (rtd), and Col. Edor Obi (rtd)—alongside former governor Senator Seriake Dickson, were all honored during the anniversary celebration.
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