In a bid to encourage leaders of the state that earn their living outside Bayelsa to also invest at home in order to grow the state’s economy and promote it like others.
Governor Diri, who gave the charge during the traditional marriage ceremony of Princess Adukeh, the daughter to the Managing Director of Mega Star Construction Company, Arch. Harcourt Adukeh, and Justin Osagie-Eromhonsele in Yenagoa.
He noted that his administration had created the enabling environment, which is its responsibility, for the private sector to tap into in order to complement its developmental effort.
He called on leaders and elders of the state to take a cue from Adukeh, and stressed that developing a state or country was not the business of government alone.
Diri described Bayelsa as a young and very peaceful state with enormous business potential, advised critics from afar to visit home and have a rethink in order to invest at home, so as making us proud like Adukeh did.
He challenged the leaders in the state to emulate Adukeh, Chief Ephraim Faloughi and others who decided to come back home and invested. Bayelsa is peaceful and our in-laws from Edo can attest to this.
“Adukeh is one of our illustrious sons, who has occupied political offices, and has established his company here, that is one of the largest private companies operating in Bayelsa through his Mega Star. Let us not stay back in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and elsewhere to criticise Yenagoa as a slum. You and I can make it better. It is not all about the government alone, which should provide the enabling environment as we have done. But we want our elders and leaders to come in with their private resources to complement the efforts of government as well”, he stated.
The Chairman of the occasion and industrialist, Chief Ephraim Faloughi, said it was a thing of joy and fulfillment for parents to witness the marriage of their children.
Chief Faloughi admonished the couple not to entertain interference in their union, noting that whenever challenges come, they alone hold the key to their marital success, no one else.
Dignitaries who accompanied the governor to the ceremony included Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor in the House of Representatives, Chief Fred Agbedi, Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Chief Solomon Agwana.
Also in attendance were a former Minister of Transportation, Chief Abiye Sekibo, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe as well as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, his deputy, Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo, among others.
