The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Print Media and Public Affairs, Mr Wisdom Ikuli has described the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri as a reincarnation of late former governor of old Rivers State, Chief Melford Okilo who executed unimaginable projects.
The technical adviser made the assertion on Thursday while taking journalists on a tour of the ongoing installation of a 60 megawatts power plant at Elebele in Ogbia local government area.
According to Ikuli, “Diri’s infrastructural projects could be likened to those executed in the old Rivers State by the late Chief Melford Okilo as governor of the old Rivers State.”
He noted that upon completion of the project Yenagoa residents would bid farewell to power failure which will in turn attract investors to the state.
Ikuli added that the governor’s giant strides were not limited to electricity alone, but in all facet of his ‘ASSURED Prosperity’ administration.
“It would be recalled that following last year’s vandalism on the PHED company’s transmission lines supplying power to Bayelsa at the Ahoada-West Local Government axis of Rivers State and parts of Bayelsa State, the governor, promised to purchase and install a new 60mw gas fired turbines to power the state,” he said.
“As a man of action, the governor has made good his word and you can see for yourselves what is going on here which many Bayelsans are not aware of.
“Light is life; the governor has decided to give Bayelsans. What the governor needs now is the support and cooperation of the so as to enable him complete all the ongoing projects across the state,” he said
The chairman of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo said the company has intensified efforts in the installation of the 60mw Gas powered plant to ensure unimpeded electricity supply in Bayelsa.
Represented during the tour by the Director of Operations of the company, Engr. Steve Bubagha, Kemenanabo reiterated the firm’s resolve to deliver the project according to specifications and within timelines.
He noted that Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa, can be likened to light as he meant every promised he has made on powering Bayelsa, especially Yenagoa and its environs on or before the end of this year.
He said “you can see for yourselves as you tour the gas turbines site today. Already works on this site have reached advanced stages.
“These buildings you see people working on here are part of the gas fired turbine power project.
“As we speak, we have started installing new poles and towers that will enable us distribute power from the gas turbines to Bayelsa people, as promised by the governor.
“And so with the level of work already done, we are very optimistic that going by the governor’s promise, that we are going to complete installation of the new 60mw gas turbines and supply electricity to the people this year,” he said.
Kemenanabo, who also bared his mind on the State of relationship between host community of the project, Elebele and the Bayelsa Electricity Company stressed that the firm and the community enjoy cordial working relationship.
He said that the host community has been very cooperative and has continued to synergize with the firm for timely completion of the project without any form of impediment.
