In a spirited continuation of his re-election campaigns, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, promised a surge of developmental projects for the Ekeremor Local Government Area over the weekend. The governor’s campaign trail spanned 14 communities in the three Ekeremor constituencies, addressing the unique needs of each locale.
The communities visited included the riverine Tamogbene, Peretorugbene, Ndoro, and Ekeremor main town, which serves as the local government headquarters. The governor also made stops at the riverine Egbemo-Angalabiri, Ogbotobo, Aghoro, Agge (situated at the tip of the Atlantic Ocean), Lalagbene, Isampou, Aleibiri, and Ayamasa.
During these visits, Governor Diri inaugurated various infrastructure projects, including a pavilion at Ekeremor town, a landing jetty at Ogbotobo, a concrete bridge at Lalagbene, internal roads at Aleibiri and Ayamasa, and a newly built technical college in Ayamasa.
A notable achievement highlighted by Governor Diri was the completion of the 42.2-kilometer Sagbama-Ekeremor road, a promise he made during his 2019 campaign. Expressing gratitude for delivering on this commitment within four years, Diri emphasized his performance in the local government as a compelling reason for the community’s support in the upcoming November 11 governorship election.
The governor pointed to achievements such as the shore protection project at Ekeremor town and various internal road projects as evidence of his administration’s dedication to the area’s development.
In a critical assessment of the disqualified governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, Governor Diri recalled Sylva’s treatment of two prominent sons of Ekeremor, Peremobowei Ebebi and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, both APC members. Ebebi was removed as deputy governor, while Sylva attempted to halt Lokpobiri’s ministerial nomination. Diri asserted that Sylva’s actions disqualify him from receiving votes in Ekeremor.
During the campaign, Governor Diri made specific promises, including the assurance that the proposed Ekeremor-Agge road would connect the community. He also committed to including the road from Toru-Ebeni to Egbemo-Angalabiri in the 2024 budget.
At Tamogbene, Peretorugbene, and Ndoro, the governor expressed gratitude for the people’s support, pledging not to let them down if re-elected. He highlighted the tangible developments in Ekeremor as effective campaign tools, in contrast to the lack of progress during the tenure of the opposition.
Governor Diri inaugurated the newly built technical college at Ayamasa, aligning with his administration’s policy shift to focus on vocational, technical, and science education. These technical colleges, being established across the eight local government areas, will serve as nuclei for polytechnics, adding value to community and state development.
The Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council, Chief Mitema Obordor, appealed to Ekeremor residents to dedicate November 11 to Governor Diri, urging them to vote en masse and defend their votes. He promised that the governor would deliver even more in his second tenure.
Senator James Manager declared widespread support for Governor Diri’s second-term bid, with over 150 Ijaw political leaders from Delta State rallying behind him. This unprecedented support in Ijawland, according to the manager, underscores the significance of the governor’s re-election.
Several dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, and House of Assembly members, emphasized the need for Ekeremor residents to reciprocate Governor Diri’s positive developmental gestures by re-electing him. Over 500 individuals defected from the APC to the PDP during the rallies, demonstrating a shift in political allegiance.
As Governor Diri’s campaign trail unfolds, it not only showcases his promises for Ekeremor’s development but also sheds light on the local sentiments and political dynamics shaping the upcoming election in Bayelsa State.
