More Than A Thousand Projects- King Dakuru Tells Importance Of Nembe-Brass Road To Kingdom

His Eminence, King Edmund Daukoru, Mingi XII, is the current Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom and former Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

In this interview with the Assured Prosperity Magazine, the 82 year old monarch and oil technocrat, examines the leadership and developmental trajectory of Governor Douye Diri, after 6 years in office. Excerpts:

Question: Bayelsa in the past six years, has been on the trajectory of peace, security, development, His Eminence sir, we trust you are equally seeing the massive development taking place across Bayelsa?

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‎Answer: I know there are some subjects where people say it is difficult to score 100 percent and politics to me, is the most difficult subject where you can score 100 percent. That apart, if we are to allocate pass marks to grade the performance of the current administration in Bayelsa State, I think, this is well in the range of 80 to 90 percent, and for a score like that in the realm of politics, that is already high and I don’t say this lightly, because, as a community head and leader of my people, I know how high the expectations are, and if I’m to speak the minds of my people, I think they will support me for placing this administration in that top category.
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Question: What are the specific impact of this Government of Assured Prosperity you can feel?

Ans: We have the Unity Bridge which was stalled before this administration took over, and now, it is completed. We are using it, and it has eased communication between the sister communities of Ogbolomabiri and Bassambiri. Then, we come to the Nembe-Brass road, and in this case, it had seemed over the years that Brass and Nembe are farther than a Thousand Kilometers, because, the journey that could be done by motorized vehicles within a few hours can take days when it comes to travelling through the riverine areas. That’s what we have suffered over all these years, and for a project that starts even to link the two places together is not just everything to us, it is the most things to us, and it has given us a greater safety in moving through the riverine areas.
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‎I think the sea pirates will be rethinking their situation with regards to this current administration, because it has taken away business from them and giving to people of goodwill who are going after their normal social and economic activities, and that is no mean feat.

I do regularly visit the ongoing Nembe-Brass road project, and my last visit was a few days ago. I went as far as the progress permits, and I hope to get across the big Kiberi River and even go beyond when next I visit, and that says a lot. The Nembe-Brass road project has united us as members of one kingdom.
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‎One has to be grateful and sound encouraging and mean it, because this is a project that deserves all the encouragement we can give, and like I said on the occasion of the flag-off, if it were possible, my opinion will be for the architect of this bold initiative that has eluded us all these years to stay longer to complete it, and I know he will complete it, and like Oliver Twist, the rest can come after.
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‎Question: Just a few days ago, we were on that project and the beams are being crossed on the bridge at Kiberi River. We are excited that the contractor assured that, by the end of this year, the part that the state government is handling will be delivered. Your Eminence sir, Bayelsa will be 30 years as a state by October this year, as a statesman, what are the good recounts in terms of development from 1996 till day?

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‎Answer: Time really flies, because by 1996, the clamour for new states has gotten to a level that the federal government could not ignore again, and it happened to be at the time of the military. Whichever way people decry military rule, at least, they can get things done and done fast sometimes.
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‎It happened to be General Sani Abacha who was in the saddle at the time, but he inherited a pile of requests for new states creation. Looking at the development in Bayelsa State, I will say that, if the creation of new states is the only avenue for us to get meaningful grassroot development, God bless creation of new states.
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‎When Bayelsa was first created, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha became the first civilian governor, and he was all over the place, trying to get support from Bayelsans all over, because as at the time he came on board, not much was on ground. To think that the lack of roads, hotels and other amenities that make up a city is a thing of the past in 30 years, is a thing of joy. Now, we can boast of even higher institutions and our children don’t have to go far to acquire good education, and so many other things.
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‎We give thanks to God, because these things didn’t come by accident, leadership matters a lot, and as life gets more complex, it is with more burden.

Then, it is on leaders to maintain the peace, because without peace, no development can take place.
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Question: Your Eminence sir, you just touched on peace in the land, what have you seen in the past 6 years under Governor Douye Diri?

Ans: I will say for the past 6 years, except for one big accident that happened in Nembe, which has to do with elections, We have had peace continuously in Bayelsa State since 2020 when this governor came into office. So, a lot of credit should be given to that, and being committed is the start to achieving anything, before action. For us to know that His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri set personal example in his embrace for peace, this peaceful atmosphere has permeated the length and breadth of the state. Peace has always being his first and last option, and we appreciate that greatly. To think now that I can go to bed and sleep with my two eyes closed without hearing any violence, is a great credit, and there is nothing one can pay for a peaceful night.
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‎In terms of physical development, so much has been achieved in this six years. It is like walking around with a checklist and ticking the projects that have been done. Not that more will not come, but what is achieved now is a great encouragement for the future.
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‎So, whoever that is taking over from Senator Douye Diri, as must happen under our constitution, is going to have a big challenge to sustain this level of infrastructural progress and maintain the peace we currently enjoy because without peace, nothing much can be expected. Kudos to him.
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Quotes: “We have had peace continuously in Bayelsa State since 2020 when this governor came into office.”

“The Nembe-Brass road project has united us as members of one kingdom.”