As Bayelsa State marks its 15th year of creation anniversary and joins the rest of the country in celebrating 51 years of independence, the State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva has charged the people of state to join hands with government and contribute their quota towards making the state great.
Chief Sylva gave the charge during the march past and calisthenics display organized as part of activities marking the country’s 51st independence and the state’s 15th year of creation anniversary at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa.
“To sustain our march to the Bayelsa of our dream, it behoves everyone to contribute their quota in whatever way possible. The task of making the state great, prosperous and peaceful is a duty for all Bayelsans. It is not a job solely for the Governor. Bayelsa belongs to all of us. We stand – or fall – together!”, Governor Sylva enthused.
The Governor, who noted that the state has achieved significant progress in its march of development in the last 15 years, said “our democracy offers us ample space for expression of our abilities and also provides us sufficient space to express our objections without resorting to violence or sabotage”.
To those who are quick to criticize that not much has been done since the creation of the state in 1996, Governor Sylva said Yenagoa, the state capital has changed dramatically and the evidence is there for all to see.
He said “the present administration is building a modern state on the foundation of the Ijaw national character of hard work and sacrifice, deepening democracy and expanding the frontiers of freedom to give meaning to the labour of our heroes past”.
Governor Sylva, who highlighted some major projects that will be commissioned in the next couple of weeks, said in the area of human development, government has initiated training and skills acquisition programmes for the people with the objective of creating sustainable employment and other opportunities for self-realisation.
Chief Sylva remarked that the prime objective of his administration since the last four years has been the creation of necessary conditions for everyone in the state to actualize their potentials.
Governor Sylva further said government has provided opportunity, security, employment, and in addition, developed infrastructure.
Even as the governor says significant progress has been achieved, he was quick to acknowledge that a lot still needs to be done.
He said government still has to combat poverty and illiteracy from among the people and also provide them with access to improved health care and employment opportunities.
At the national level, Governor Sylva observed that some people want to create instability in the country to further their selfish and devilish enterprise, adding that “these are challenges that face us as a country”.
On the way forward, Chief Sylva said “we must confront and surmount these challenges together. For us to win the war, we must rise above personal aggrandizement and narrow political interests and build consensus on issues of common national importance”.
The governor took time to greet all the past governors of the state, the founding fathers, the State Council of Traditional Rulers, the state Elders Forum and indeed all those who gave their time, treasures and talents to both the creation and growth of the state.
While wishing Bayelsans a prosperous future, Chief Sylva expressed implicit confidence in the ability of the government and people of the state to rise to the occasion and make Bayelsa great.
Chris Odi
For: Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
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