Former President Goodluck Jonathan has thanked the late Gen. Sani Abacha for creating Bayelsa, speaking at the state’s 30th anniversary celebration in Yenagoa.
Jonathan said Bayelsa will always be grateful to Abacha, the late head of state, for creating a homogenous Ijaw state out of the former Rivers State in 1996.
He spoke on Thursday night at a dinner and awards ceremony held at the Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa. He spoke on behalf of the award recipients.
Bayelsa was created on October 1, 1996, and Jonathan pointed out that Abacha made it one of the last six states his government created. The other two states created at the same time were Ebonyi and Ekiti.
Jonathan said the creation of the state gave the people a distinct political identity and a home of their own.
He also addressed young people who ask what there is to celebrate at 30. In his view, Bayelsa has made real progress, although it has not yet reached where it should be.
Jonathan dedicated his award to his late political mentor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who brought him into politics as deputy governor.
He also praised Governor Douye Diri for organising the anniversary and for honouring the people who helped create and develop the state.
The event, titled “Celebrating Legacies,” was the grand finale of a four-day anniversary programme. Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, attended, along with members of the Abacha family, including Abba Abacha and Alhaja Fatima Gumsu Abacha.
The state honoured Abacha, Jonathan, former governor Seriake Dickson, the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Alamieyeseigha, former military administrators of the state and other prominent Bayelsans.
Diri also thanked Abacha on behalf of the Ijaw people, saying the creation of the state helped them escape marginalisation. Before the anniversary, he had visited the Abacha family in Abuja and announced that the state would honour the late leader.
Abacha ruled Nigeria as military head of state from 1993 to 1998 and remains a divisive figure in the country’s memory.
