Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the people of Bayelsa State will continue to appreciate the late former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, for creating the state from the old Rivers State in 1996.
Jonathan made the remarks on Thursday night in Yenagoa during activities marking the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa State, where he was also honoured.
The former president dedicated his award to his late political mentor and former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who brought him into politics and appointed him as his deputy.
Jonathan acknowledged that some young Bayelsans had questioned what the state had achieved in three decades, but maintained that Bayelsa had recorded considerable progress since its creation.
He said, “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.
“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 also commended Governor Douye Diri for organising the anniversary celebration and recognising individuals who contributed to the creation and development of the state.
Speaking at the event, Diri similarly acknowledged Abacha’s role in the creation of Bayelsa on October 1, 1996, saying the late military ruler remained worthy of recognition by the Ijaw people.
The governor said his repeated references to Abacha were deliberate, noting that the late military leader could be viewed differently by different groups, but was remembered by Bayelsans for creating a separate Ijaw state.
He said: “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.
“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.”
Those honoured during the anniversary ceremony included Abacha, Jonathan, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, former military administrators of Bayelsa and the immediate past governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Among the former administrators recognised were the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni (rtd), Police Commissioner Habu Daura (rtd) and Col. Edor Obi (rtd).
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