Gowon, fourth right cutting the tape to commission the new Governor’s Office. Third to his right is Governor Dickson. To Dickson’s right is King Alfred Diette Spiff, the Amayanabo of Twon Brass.

General Yakubu Gowon, one time Head of State, visited Bayelsa State on Thursday to commission some projects, one of which was the new Governor’s Office. At the occasion, Gowon praised Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for his “commitment to infrastructural development and building bridges of unity across the country.”

Gowon, who made the commendation at the official commissioning of the new Governor’s Office complex in Government House, Yenagoa, described the edifice as exceptionally beautiful.

He congratulated Dickson on the successful completion of the magnificent complex, noting that, his visit to Bayelsa has confirmed reports concerning the governor’s commitment to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors.

According to Gowon, the completion of projects and promotion of the people’s well being are the hallmark of good governance and, therefore, urged the governor to continually carry everybody along, irrespective of political affiliation.

Recounting his experiences as Head of State, he acknowledged the roles of Major Isaac Adaka Boro and Chief Harold Dappa Biriye and expressed gratitude to the people of old Rivers State for their unflinching support to his government and the unity of the country.

In his remarks, Dickson described Gowon as a father of the nation, who has contributed tremendously to the unity and the progress of the country, both during and after his reign as Head of State.

Dickson, who noted that his administration has in the last five years embarked on a silent revolution to turn around the fortunes of the state, promised to do more, even in the face of the prevailing economic challenges.

He said the commissioning of the edifice marks the beginning of the unveiling of the new Bayelsa, where excellence in education, health, security and other critical infrastructure would be pursued with renewed vigour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Edwin Clark, congratulated Dickson for his developmental strides, describing the new office as the best in the country.

The Ijaw national leader used the opportunity to restate the need for the country to be restructured to give both minority and majority groups a sense of belonging to enhance national security and development.

In his speech, the chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Diete Spiff, noted that Ijaws in Bayelsa would not have witnessed the level of development, if it had not been for the benevolence of Gowon, who created the old Rivers State from which Bayelsa was carved out in 1996.

Earlier, the former Head of State, who was accompanied by his wife, Lady Victoria, had been conferred with a chieftaincy title of “Se Ebi Daubo” meaning, ‘Benevolent Father of the Nation’.