*SAYS HE’S COMMITTED TO SERVING BAYELSA
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has been voted Governor of the Year 2021 by the Board of Editors of Independent Newspapers, publishers of Daily Independent, Saturday Independent and Sunday Independent titles.
Senator Diri emerged the best governor in the Good Governance and Responsive Leadership category.
The awards ceremonies will hold on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island in Lagos.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, disclosed that the award notification letter was presented to Governor Diri on Saturday in Lagos by the newspaper’s management delegation led by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Steve Omanufeme.
Mr. Omanufeme said the award is in recognition of the Bayelsa governor’s outstanding performance in just two years in office.
“This award is in recognition of your exceptional contribution to good governance and responsive leadership in Bayelsa State. Since assumption of office, Bayelsa under your watch has witnessed remarkable development and progress in virtually all sectors.
“Your Excellency’s works speak volumes and attest to a man well prepared to take the state to the next level. Yours is a model of verifiable achievements, which is in line with the philosophy of this award: Celebrating Trailblazers and Exceptional Nigerians,” the letter stated.
Responding, Governor Diri thanked the management of the newspaper for the honour, noting that it was one of the few awards he accepted to receive out of a plethora he had turned down in the last two years.
His words: “I am not an awards-inclined person. That is why in the last two years I have declined several awards and nominations. I have always focused on delivering good governance and on development of our state.
“My abiding commitment remains service to the people of Bayelsa and our country. I intend to focus on this throughout my time in office. By God’s grace we will not be distracted from the task we have set for ourselves and our state to make it better than we met it.”