Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday gave reasons for the delay in powering the newly commissioned 60mw gas-powered turbine for use by the people of the state. He said there was the need to effectively protect the facility before being put to use.
Lamenting that some people were playing politics with the project, the governor said by the time the engineers were done with the checks and installation of the necessary protective tools, those who have been wishing that the state remained in darkness would be put to shame.
He said: “We know that the people of Bayelsa will never forget the gas turbine project. But some of our people are talking about time and darkness. There is nothing like darkness. Those who want to play politics can do so but we will do what we know is right for our state and our people.
”As a government, we want our people to be free from darkness. So, whatever you are seeing are the final finishing touches after the commissioning. Certain protective devices must be placed on the turbines so that when they start operation, they will not be affected.
”Immediately the protective devices are fully installed, the turbines will come on to the shame of those who want darkness as they didn’t want the turbines at all.
”From the beginning, they said we will fail. Now we have surprised them and they are not happy.“
Diri equally rapped those who claim to be political fathers but do not want their sons to grow politically, saying only bad fathers act that way. He urged political leaders to exercise restraint in their actions and comments as these send out the wrong signals to their followers.
According to him, political fathers should pray for their successors to do better than them as that was the wish of a good father for his children.
“A good father prays for his child to succeed more than him. So every political father should pray for his successors to do better than him. A father who prays for his son not to do better than him is a bad father.”
He also disclosed that the immediate past vice president, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, would visit the state on Monday, April 20, 2026 to inaugurate the Oxbow Lake-Agbura Road and also visit the completed Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, which ground-breaking he performed when he was in office as vice president.
