Thursday, September 24, 2026

I am shocked I became Bayelsa governor: Diri

The governor urged Christians to be faithful to God in order to unlock more earthly blessings.

• January 3, 2021
Gov Douye Diri
Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri (Photo Credit: Twitter)

Governor Douye Diri on Sunday, joined other Christians in the state to offer praises to God for witnessing the first Sunday of 2021.

Mr. Diri, who worshipped at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Sampou, his hometown, told the congregation that he never knew the community would produce a governor, while he was supporting the governorship aspiration of others.

“Sometimes, I wonder that all the time I had been supporting the governorship aspiration of others, I did not know that God had destined me, even before I was born, to be governor. So when your time comes, nobody can stop it.

“If the same God could do this for me, He will do it for you. Just be faithful, have a free mind and he will do it again and again,” Mr. Diri said according to a statement by his media aide Daniel Alabrah. 

Mr. Diri was declared governor in a controversial ruling by the Supreme Court, after initially losing out to the APC candidate in the 2019 Bayelsa governorship election.

The governor urged Christians to be faithful to God in order to unlock more earthly blessings, just as he called on the people of the state to always give thanks and pay less attention to their worries.

“Let me commend the people of Bayelsa for taking out time across the state to thank God today. What can you offer to God other than to say ‘thank you’ to him?

“He has the gold and the silver. He also has the power, as power comes only from him.

“If not for God, I will not be standing here as governor. So we must continue to thank him with everything we have daily.

“I, therefore, join the rest of the people of Bayelsa to say thank you Lord for keeping us to see this first Sunday of 2021,” Mr. Diri said.

He also urged the citizens to realise that they were special in the sight of God, adding that he always manifested himself in the affairs of the state, whenever the agents of evil tried to plunge it into darkness.

“For us in Bayelsa, we are a special people, and until we realise that we are special, we will continue to give room for darkness,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the service was attended by members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, other appointees and dignitaries from across the state. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

So-Safe officials

States

Suspected Ogun burglar nabbed with aluminum window, pumping machine wires 

Mr Ganzallo explained that preliminary interrogation conducted by Mr Adeniji showed that the suspect who confessed to the theft.

Isah Pantami

Heading 2

Court voids Pantami’s emergence as Gombe PDP governorship candidate

The judge ordered the party to conduct a primary election for its governorship aspirants.

Child soldiers in Africa

Africa

African countries sign convention on disarmament, demobilisation of child soldiers

Mr Bourita said the convention stressed how Africa was demonstrating its ability to develop its own standards rather than continuing to import them.

Gavel used to illustrate the story

States

Woman in court over alleged reckless driving

The prosecutor said the defendant recklessly drove a Ford Focus car with registration number LES 253 AG.

Uba Sani of Kaduna State (Credit: Twitter)

Agriculture

Kaduna ‌community seeks urgent government action on schools, agriculture

The Bugau community has appealed to the government for urgent intervention regarding severe infrastructure shortages and a lack of agricultural support.

Boys Scout

States

500 youths to attend Scout Council Camporee for leadership training

The Scout Association of Nigeria, Osun council, says 500 youths will participate in its 2026 Camporee aimed at grooming them to contribute meaningfully to national development.