PANDEF-CHAIRMAN-HAILS-GOVERNOR-DIRI-@-6: CELEBRATES-"PROSPERITY"-MANDATE-AND-REGIONAL-LEADERSHIP

PANDEF CHAIRMAN HAILS GOVERNOR DIRI AT 6: CELEBRATES "PROSPERITY" MANDATE AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP

By: Dave Ikiedei Asei/Wisdom Tide

February 14, 2026

YENAGOA — As the world celebrated Valentine’s Day, a different kind of "love letter" was penned to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri. Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has issued a glowing tribute marking the Governor’s sixth year in office, describing his tenure as a transformative era for the state.

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

In a statement released on February 14, 2026, Ambassador Igali lauded Governor Diri’s "completely awesome and profound" impact on the state’s landscape. He specifically highlighted the Governor’s ability to navigate and conquer the notoriously difficult terrain of the Niger Delta.

Engineering Feats: The construction of critical roads and bridges connecting far-flung communities deep within the creeks.

Generational Legacy: Igali noted that these projects are not merely temporary fixes but structural legacies that will be spoken of by "generations unborn."

Economic Connectivity: The enhanced interconnection of riverine areas, which has bolstered trade and movement across the state.

THE "PROSPERITY" SOVEREIGNTY AND SOCIAL WELFARE

The PANDEF Chairman emphasized that the moniker "Prosperity Governor" was not just a title but a reflection of the administration's impact on human lives. Beyond concrete and steel, the report cited a "people-centered" approach to governance.

"Your story abounds on how you touch lives of our people on social welfarism... Bayelsa State now stands shoulders high in the comity of states in Nigeria," Igali stated.

A NEW CHAPTER: LEADER OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH

The celebration also touched upon Governor Diri’s rising profile on the national stage. Having recently been accorded the chairmanship of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Igali described him as the "bellwether" of the region.

The Ambassador expressed absolute confidence in Diri’s capacity to lead the geopolitical zone, citing his steady hand and focused leadership as the primary reasons his peers selected him for the lofty role.

A VALENTINE’S DAY PRAYER FOR SUCCESS

Closing his tribute with a spiritual note, Ambassador Igali—referencing the Governor's nickname as the "Valentine Governor" due to the timing of his mandate—offered prayers for a strong finish.

He invoked the "devotion of fathers past," praying that the Governor remains "energized and unflagging" as he approaches the final stretch of his administration. The message concluded with a warm congratulation to both the Governor and the people of Bayelsa State for six years of "grace and favor."