Bayelsa Is More Peaceful, Stable Under Dickson – Obasanjo

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday commended Governor Seriake Dickson for the development and transformation of the state in the last six years, describing Bayelsa State “as more comparatively peaceful, secured and stable in the country.”

Obasanjo made the remarks at the Ijaw National Academy, INA, Kaiama, during an interactive session with students of the institution. 

He described Dickson as visionary and focused, stressing that Bayelsa was making progress under his watch.

“I have been here and what I have seen I have said a bit. My first coming was exactly twenty years ago, after that I have come and gone but the difference between what I saw 20 years ago when I came for campaigns and today is like light and darkness, there is no doubt about that. 

“As I can see and hear from the governor, he is a man who understands where he is going and if as a leader you understand where you are going you cannot miss the road. He has got that and that is one important thing a leader must have. He must know where he is going.

“Comparatively, your state is more peaceful, comparatively secured and comparatively stable, that is very important,” he said. 

According to him, “the governor is doing wonderfully well in the area of health, there may be other area that he hasn’t touched as much as he should have. But what he has done is great and anybody coming after him will do something else. Anybody coming after him will not start building the Ijaw National Academy from the scratch. He may expand it. The INA has already been established anybody coming after him will do something else.”

The former President urged the state governor to work towards making the state medical tourist hub of the nation with the world class medical facilities put in place by the Dickson led administration. 

He reaffirmed his belief in a united and prosperous Nigeria urged the youths to keep alive hope and never give up hope on the country. 

While admonishing the youths never to lose hope in the country he said, “I am an incurable optimist about Nigeria. I have great hope because of you (the youths).

Chief Obasanjo had earlier commissioned in Yenagoa the State Specialist Hospital, Bayelsa Drug Mart and Diagnostic Centre all located within the state capital and also visited the secretariat of the state council of traditional rulers where he was received by its chairman, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, who incidentally was the first military administrator of old Rivers State. 

While commending Governor Dickson for investing in the health sector , Obasanjo said the vision of the Governor was worthy of emulation. The former president also enrolled in the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme, making him an honorary enrollees.. 

Earlier, the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, who is celebrating his six years in office, stated that the diagnostic centre is part of his campaign promises to the people of Bayelsa, adding that his administration will continue to work to uplift the healthcare delivery in the state. He said the 500 bed hospital initiated by previous administration but is still uncompleted will be given a face lift in the next fiscal year and work on it will be completed before the end of his tenure.