Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged his political opponents in the various opposition parties and camps in the state to play by the rules and stop undoing his administration in the state.
Diri also urged opposition party members to play politics with fairness and a mindset of putting the state and the Ijaw nation first and above personal interests.
Gov. Douye Diri, who made this known at the weekend during the state’s silver jubilee anniversary dinner held at Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, in Yenagoa. stressed that if politicians played by the rules, the state would transit from one government to another development-oriented government because ultimately power belonged to the people.
“In Bayelsa, we have one family; a family of the Ijaw nation, a family that we have no reason to undo each other. Let us play politics according to the rules.
“I believe that if we play by the rules, we would transit from one developing government to another development-oriented government because power belongs to the people.
“Let us build strong institutions rather than building strong men. Let our institutions outlive us so that at the end of the day we would bequeath a developing and peaceful state to generations yet unborn.”
Gov. Diri however revealed that his government is working on a short and long term development plans of between 10 and 30 years for the state.
According to him, the plan would serve as a template for future administrations to consolidate upon and bequeath to their successors.
He also stated that the task of achieving the plan would be the collective decision of all stakeholders.
“For us, the task of developing Bayelsa is a must and as your government, we will continue to listen to you by way of advice. We will continue to relate with you concerning our development plans.
“Bayelsa will have to develop a short and long term development plan. A short term development plan of not less than 10 years and a long term plan of not less than 30 years” .
“As a government, we cannot do that alone. We will fall back on you to achieve that plan so at the end of the day, any governor that comes would not deviate from the development plan of our dear state.