FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has said the people of Bayelsa State will remain grateful to the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, for creating the state out of the old Rivers State in 1996.
Jonathan made the remark on Thursday night at the 30th anniversary celebration of the creation of Bayelsa State and an award ceremony held in Yenagoa, where he also paid tribute to his late political mentor and former boss, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
News Point Nigeria reports that Bayelsa was among the six states created by the Abacha administration on October 1, 1996, bringing together predominantly Ijaw-speaking communities that had previously been spread across different parts of the former Rivers State.
Jonathan, who served as Alamieyeseigha’s deputy governor before eventually becoming governor and later president, dedicated his award at the ceremony to the late former governor, whom he credited with bringing him into politics.
Reflecting on Bayelsa’s three decades of existence, Jonathan acknowledged that the state had yet to attain its full potential but said its creation had nevertheless brought significant gains to its people.
“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,” he said.
Jonathan noted that some young Bayelsans had questioned what there was to celebrate about the state at 30, but argued that the creation of Bayelsa had produced substantial benefits that should not be overlooked.
“Most people might not know, we have gained tremendously following the creation of the state,” he added.
The former president specifically commended Abacha for making the creation of Bayelsa possible, saying the people of the state would continue to appreciate the late military ruler for the decision.
“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 said.
He also commended Governor Douye Diri for organising the anniversary and recognising individuals who contributed to the creation, growth and development of the state.
Speaking at the event, Diri similarly paid tribute to Abacha, expressing gratitude on behalf of the Ijaw people for the creation of Bayelsa on October 1, 1996.
The governor said Abacha deserved continued commendation for creating what he described as a homogeneous Ijaw state, arguing that the decision ended years of what he regarded as marginalisation and fragmentation of the Ijaw people across different states.
Diri explained that his repeated references to Abacha during his remarks were deliberate because of the significance of the late Head of State’s decision to the Ijaw people.
“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,” Diri said.
He added: “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.”
The anniversary ceremony also featured the recognition of prominent figures associated with the history and development of Bayelsa State.
Among those honoured were late General Sani Abacha; former President Goodluck Jonathan; Major Isaac Adaka Boro; Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; and Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye.
Others honoured included former military administrators of the state, namely late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.), Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni (rtd.), Police Commissioner Habu Daura (rtd.) and Colonel Edor Obi (rtd.), as well as former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.