May 29, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State Chapter, Denis Otiotio, has on behalf of other members of the party, felicitated with the newly sworn-in President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, his vice, on their successful swearing-in.
Speaking on Monday, in Yenagoa, during a reception organised to mark the new president’s inauguration, Otitio said that the APC members were happy, adding that his emergence signified the beginning of renewed hope.
He stated that he hopes that President Tinubu will bring the needed infrastructural development, adding that he believes that he will tackle the issue of flooding in Bayelsa state as he promised during his campaign.
Otitio said, “This is the first time an APC President is handing over to another elected APC president. It is symbolic and we believe that Tinubu will consolidate on the gains Buhari had achieved and do more for Nigeria.
“In Bayelsa State, we are happy because this is the beginning of a renewed hope for the people of Nigeria and particularly for Bayelsa State.
“We believe that President Tinubu will bring the expected infrastructural development in Nigeria and for Bayelsa state, when he came during his campaign, he assured Bayelsans that he was going to conquer the problem of flooding and erosion that has bedevilled the Niger Delta over the years.
“Hence we are happy. We have gathered to celebrate the inauguration of our new president. We wish him all the best and pray that God will give him the wisdom and the knowledge to lead the people of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“We are expectant in Bayelsa State. We pray that our expectations will be met strongly.
On the allegations of Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, that the outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari, didn’t do anything for Bayelsa state, Otiotio said, “The outgone government of Buhari undertook several projects in Bayelsa State, the dualisation of Bayelsa Palm road, Otuoke road, which is almost completed, just a few days ago, the federal secretariat was commissioned by Buhari. The Mother and Child Hospital at Azikoro was commissioned.
“If you go to Brass, there is a road project going on there, you have the Oloibiri oil and gas museum, it is ongoing. Emeyal Oil and Gas Park is there. In Polako, there are several projects there, even the Azikel refinery that you are seeing there, federal government money is in there.
“It is a shame that the Bayelsa government is just doing that to divert the attention of their high level of ineptitude, high level of underdevelopment and that has been going on for Douye Diri’s three years that he has been in office.
“They have nothing to show despite the huge amount of money that accrued to the state. What they have on ground is not commensurate with what they have received. It is abysmal and the people of Bayelsa state are aware that the Douye Diri government is just rehearsing governance. They have not been able to bring development to the people and they have not been able to govern the state.
Also Speaking, Peremobowei Ebebi, deputy governor to Timipre Sylva, during his time as governor of the state said, “We congratulate the new president on his inauguration and we are now waiting for the dividends of democracy and we believe that he will bring results.
Also speaking, a youth leader in Bayelsa State, Oyinua Paris, said that the youths were happy, stating that Tinubu understands the political history of Nigeria.
“He said Tinubu understands this country’s political system and we are very much aware that he is strong enough to take this country to greater heights.
“We are not just happy for ourselves, we are happy because Nigeria will see a breath of fresh air. We are not just happy for Bayelsa, we are happy for the entire country that there will be the needed peace and prosperity in this country.
“As Niger Deltans, we have a lot of agitations already on ground. We want massive development of our people, and youth empowerment programmes, we need educational facilities so that our schools will be of international standard.
“Already Tinubu is very much aware that he will work in synergy with the people and make sure that our state is taken to the next level”, he said.
