By Sam Jones, Yenagoa
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called on states across Nigeria to emulate Bayelsa State on peace.
Speaking in Yenagoa Thursday at the 12th edition of Bayelsa State annual thanksgiving, Obasanjo attributed the peaceful atmosphere to the peaceful disposition of Governor Douye Diri.
He pointed out that if other states replicated what was happening in Bayelsa State, the country would be a more peaceful place to live in. https://sundiatapost.com/african-leaders-must-find-home-grown-solutions-to-continents-problems-obasanjo/
Obasanjo who said the state has a good heritage also lauded former governor now Senator Seriake Dickson for handing over to the incumbent.
The former president also used the occasion to advise clergy men not to shy away from the truth, but tell the people what they needed to hear, as “we are not perfect but we are always striving for perfection.”
His words: “What I’m seeing here is better than what I expected. You have peace here compared to other parts of the country. Comparatively, you have more peace here than in other states in this country.
“If what is happening here is replicated in all other states of Nigeria then we will say that we have a good country. You have security; security without peace is no security. Here you have peace, security and stability.
“Good people of Bayelsa, you have a good heritage.You are good people who respect God, serve humanity and serve God. I’m glad to be here with you and any other time you ask me to be here, I will always be here.”
Former governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson said he was delighted to be at the thanksgiving, maintaining that he decided to join the people of the state to give thanks to God.
Dickson stated: “It is a miracle that this is the 12th edition. When we started people thought that it is some of those things, that it will come and go. https://sundiatapost.com/strip-obasanjo-of-all-traditional-titles-yoruba-group-tells-monarchs/
“In 2019, when we started the succession transition, the election was tough, but the transition was something else. It is only when you have done it that you can say yes you have some experience.
“I used to tell my colleagues, if you go for an election and the election is tough, when you win you become a GOC.
“When you win with your house and you our state intact as we witnessed, be qualified to call yourself a general. After this event, I will be joining our governor and father to commission the senatorial road.
“Today, I thank all of you for coming and I can see that our state is peaceful. It is my prayer that our state will continue to witness peace and stability in Jesus name.”
In his remarks, Governor Diri thanked the people of the state for entrenching peace and security saying that the reason for the peaceful atmosphere in the state was because the people are good.
Diri pointed out that the essence of leadership is to bring happiness to the people stressing that is what he has done.
His words: “I want to thank Bayelsans that today there is peace and security and it is because Bayelsans are good and they want peace and security.
“The former governor started this thanksgiving and when we came we improved on it. And, today, you can see our state, everybody who comes acknowledges the peace and security in our state.
“And so we cannot go back to Egypt, we cannot go back to the days of Famou Tangbe. So the essence of government is to bring happiness to the people and today we are all happy here that God gave grace to a man to build this edifice and now we have added value by the dual carriageway that we are driving to this place.
“And everybody is saying that Bayelsa is developing, so what else do we want? To do any of these things is not by our power or strength, it is by God’s grace.The peace and security we are enjoying is because we have agreed to come together to live in peace and in unity.
“We are mortals, we can offend each other, but the ability to forgive and move ahead is all that we need in this state. Let us continue to praise him, that way our Father will bring out the hidden resources and development of the state will be faster.”
