Diri urges Bayelsa elders council to remain objective, politically neutral

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has charged the newly inaugurated leadership of the Bayelsa State Elders Council to uphold firmness, objectivity, and political neutrality in their advisory capacity. Speaking through his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, during the inauguration ceremony in Yenagoa, Governor Diri stressed the importance of the council's experienced members in guiding the state government.

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By way of reminder, you need to separate yourself from partisanship, not only in politics. But you need to be firm and objective as a council. You must hold onto these tenets to achieve true success.

The new executive committee is led by High Chief Boma Spero-Jack, former Special Adviser on Security Matters. Other key positions include Prof. Alison Oguru as Vice Chairman, Chief Benedict Guembe as Secretary-General, and Dr. Ezonebi Opubo as Assistant Secretary. The council also comprises High Chief Major Andrew Oputa as Treasurer, Madam Ela Douglas as Financial Secretary, Sir Mathias Otuogha as Publicity Secretary, Engr. Henry Domo-Spiff as Auditor, and Hon. O.O. Osusu as Legal Adviser. Immediate past Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (retd.) will serve as an ex-officio member, alongside other former council members.

Governor Diri highlighted that the council's collective wisdom and diverse expertise, spanning fields like engineering, governance, security, and tradition, position them uniquely to offer valuable insights. He urged them to remain detached from partisanship and maintain their objectivity to achieve true success. "The Governor and his team hold you in high esteem because if you don’t have good elders around you, you can never learn from history. You are people that have seen it all," Diri remarked, appreciating their role.

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The Governor and his team hold you in high esteem because if you don’t have good elders around you, you can never learn from history. You are people that have seen it all. So, please continue to do the good work you are doing. We appreciate you.

Furthermore, Governor Diri voiced concern about a perceived trend of Bayelsans abandoning traditional economic pursuits such as farming, trading, and fishing, leaving these vital activities increasingly to outsiders. He warned that this shift could lead to capital flight and negatively impact the state's cultural and economic landscape if not addressed. The governor called upon the Elders Council to advise the government on strategies to reorient Bayelsans, particularly the youth, towards productive activities and the preservation of societal values. Efforts are underway to formalize the Elders Council through legislation.

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Your role is to majorly advise. If it is engineering, we have it amongst you. If it is governance, security, tradition and other fields of endeavor, we have it here. So where else do we look to? So play your advisory role objectively.