The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, yesterday, announced plans by the state government to immortalise and honour founding fathers of the state including late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
According to the Governor, the Late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, would be honoured with a foundation stone for a 150 duplex housing estate to be named after him for creating the State on October 1, 1996.
Governor Seriake Dickson who made this known during his state wide broadcast in commemoration of the 16th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State and the 52nd independence of the country, said the State government, in partnership with the Ijaw National Congress (INC), have christened the main auditorium of the INC secretariat after General Abacha as well as invite the family of the late General to be part of the celebration and also plant a memorial tree in his honour.
According to him,” General Abacha was one leader who loved Nigeria and the Ijaw nation and had the courage to do what was right by giving the Ijaws a homogenous State that today we all can proudly and truly call our own which I refer to as the Jerusalem of all Ijaw people. Irrespective of whatever opinion people may hold (which is their legitimate right), General Abacha by virtue of the creation of the homogenous state of the Ijaw nation, has earned a place in the heart of the Ijaw people for which we are eternally grateful.
“In appreciation of the significant steps General Abacha took for our development, I have, on your behalf, invited the family to be part of this celebration, no matter how low key it is. The Bayelsa State Government would, therefore, use this occasion to further immortalise the memory of the late General Abacha and show to his family, friends and all Nigerians at large that we do not forget our friends. This gesture which comes 16 years after the creation of the state would also be used to honour the first civilian Governor of the State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha for his commitment to the Ijaw struggle by naming a hall after him in the INC building which was started by him.”