Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has
said his administration’s urban renewal programme will transform Yenagoa, the
state capital, into a modern city.
Senator Diri stated this against the backdrop of the
recent relocation of inter-state commercial transporters to the new state-owned
transport terminal at Igbogene.
Speaking on Wednesday during the state executive
council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, the governor said centralised
motor parks were features of modern cities, which Yenagoa was gradually turning
into.
He warned against touting around the vicinity of the
terminal, saying that all travellers were expected to go into the terminal for
booking and boarding of vehicles.
Diri also stressed that the relocation would curb
crime as passengers coming into the state would now be monitored.
He said: " I visited the new terminal and saw its
beauty. This is what every modern society does.
“For those who play politics and are still
criticising, I am very sorry for them. Bayelsans are however happy with what we
have done. It is only those who do not know what a modern society looks like
that make derogatory statements about me and the government.
"For the first time in our state, we are seeing
what a city is like. We want to actually turn Yenagoa into a modern city. We
want to bring Yenagoa to a better place.
"I am happy that the terminal is bubbling.
Nobody should act like agbero (tout) in that place.
That park is a modern with everything provided.
"For those who want to come into Bayelsa to
commit crime, we have stopped them with the movement to the new terminal."
Commenting on the peaceful and crime-free Yuletide
period, the Bayelsa helmsman commended the security agencies for their
collaborative efforts that ensured the state was secured throughout the festive
season.
He also noted that there was a boost in tourism and
entertainment during the period, and particularly commended dancehall music
star, Enetimi Odon (popularly called Timaya) for giving back to the state
through his annual Timaya Day concert held on January 1.
He observed that the event attracted a huge crowd of
mostly youths and that the show had great tourism potential for the state.
Diri stated: "In the whole of these festivities,
what I consider as the final lap was the January 1 Timaya Day that had to do
with youths of our state.
“Instructively, there was no incident of crime. I was
there. The youths were well behaved and they became security by themselves.
“From what I saw, I believe there is hope for this
country and for our state. We all need to do what is right.”
Commenting on an ugly incident at Agbere in Sagbama
Local Government Area, Diri thanked the leadership of the community for
maintaining the peace and for not taking the laws into their hands.
He assured that ongoing investigation would unravel
those behind the dastardly murder of a chief in the community.
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