‘Don’t Change Leaders Because of Temporary Hardship,’ Bayelsa Governor Diri Urges Nigerians
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has urged Nigerians to remain patient with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying temporary hardship should not be a reason to change leadership.
Diri made the call on Tuesday at the launch of the National Grassroots Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Penetration Programme in Bayelsa State, where he commended the Federal Government for initiatives aimed at improving the living standards of Nigerians.
The governor stated that although Nigerians were experiencing difficulties in some areas, the benefits of ongoing reforms and projects would become evident with time.
He cautioned against replacing leaders before they had the opportunity to complete programmes capable of transforming lives, citing his own experience in Bayelsa State.
“It is not even good enough for you to be changing leadership. Ask yourself, if I did not come back for a second tenure, if you had removed me in my first tenure, would you now see electricity the way you have seen it today?” Diri asked, challenging the public to compare past and present power supply.
He argued that a new administration might not continue with projects initiated by its predecessor, especially where political considerations could affect continuity.
“Let us be patient, and I believe that Nigeria will be a better place,” the governor stated.
Diri also praised President Tinubu for supporting projects in Bayelsa State, particularly in the areas of energy, infrastructure and electricity generation.
According to him, the President’s decision to remove electricity from the exclusive legislative list enabled states to participate more actively in the power sector.
The governor noted that Bayelsa’s gas turbine project benefited from the Federal Government’s support, including the approval of tax waivers for imported equipment.
He stressed that the development demonstrated the importance of cooperation between federal and subnational governments in delivering projects that directly impact citizens.
Speaking on the LPG programme, Diri explained that the initiative would help reduce dependence on firewood for cooking, particularly among rural women, while addressing environmental and health concerns associated with traditional cooking methods.
He lamented that Bayelsa, despite being an oil and gas-producing state, had suffered environmental degradation and neglect over the years, adding that the transition towards cleaner energy represented a positive change.
“We are now proposing a solution that will take away the smoke that affects the eyes of our mothers and the smoke that later constitutes health hazards,” he remarked.
Diri urged beneficiaries of the LPG programme to use the gas cylinders safely, stressing the need for proper training and adherence to safety measures to prevent domestic accidents.
The governor also appealed to the Federal Government to extend the six-month transition period for states to take over the programme to two years, saying the additional time would allow proper consultations and preparation among the different levels of government.
He assured that the Bayelsa State Government would continue to collaborate with the Federal Government and development partners to ensure the success of the initiative.
The National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme is aimed at expanding access to clean cooking energy by distributing LPG equipment to 5 million Nigerian households across the country.
