Bayelsa governor charges cabinet members on stewardship

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye, has implored members of the state executive council to explore ways to actualise the vision of his administration for the benefit of Bayelsans.

He gave the charge on Thursday at the opening of a three-day retreat for cabinet members tagged ‘Prosperity Agenda for Growth and Development’ at the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The governor, who advised participants to take the retreat seriously in order to gain additional knowledge that would assist them in their various tasks, said as bearers of the administration’s prosperity vision, they should see themselves as those with the opportunity to serve and improve the living conditions of the people.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as advising the cabinet members to work collectively to achieve the set goals of the administration.

Senator Diri also called on the commissioners to see the people from a positive perspective, noting that Bayelsans want the best and that once they see government performing well, they would support it.

His words: “They are watching you. When they see your thoughts and speeches to be on the positive side, they would follow you. So, see them from a positive point of view and you would create a relationship that is harmonious and cordial.

“In your respective ministries, preach love and friendship just like I do. We have to be committed to our people and the prosperity agenda.”

Diri said as a predominantly civil service state, the Bayelsa economy would not grow without diversification hence the need for the government to explore avenues of wealth creation.

Such avenues, he said, are agriculture, entrepreneurship, technology, tourism, education among others.

He also stated that to achieve these, there is the need for reorientation to redirect the mentality of the people from depending on government for survival to becoming entrepreneurs.

“This retreat is to help re-orientate our people to change their mentality from being government-dependent to business-oriented. To set the example as members of the executive to ensure that our people key in, every member of the state executive is expected to own a farm. Our success would depend on our approach,” he said.

The Governor also urged each commissioner to identify and prioritise areas in their ministries they feel would generate revenue and seek ways to achieve them.

He said his administration was ready to partner with the private sector to drive the economy of the state from being civil service-dependent to private sector- driven.

The resource persons at the retreat include former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Dame Didi Walson-Jack; a former Director-General, Directorate of State Services, Mr. Mathew Seiyefa; and Dr. Sam Amadi.

Others are a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Gabriel Onyenwife, Mr. Kalada Apiafi, Mr. Isaac Yalah, Prof. Olabisi Olasehinde Williams, Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd) and Mr. Joseph Akedesuo.