I’m More Concerned With Addressing Economic Challenges And Not Palliatives – Gov Diri

Governor Douye Diri, has said that his administration was more concerned with putting in place the right structures and systems to address the economic challenges being faced by the people than offering palliatives which is a temporary measure.

Governor Diri, who stated this during Easter Sunday service at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in his community, Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, specifically said that palliative is not the lasting solution to the economic hardship in the country.

He however, said that even though he was not against palliatives, his administration was initiating policies and programmes that would bring about long-term empowerment to people of the state rather than short-term measures such as palliatives.

A statement by Daniel Alabrah, Chief Pres Secretary to the Bayesa Governor, said that Senator Diri said his administration is presently tackling manpower shortage and the skills challenge by establishing technical colleges in the eight Local Government Areas, embarking on skills acquisition programmes, building roads to connect the hinterlands as well as other infrastructure that would bring socio-economic empowerment to the people.

Diri however, said that the government alone cannot provide for everyone thus, called on the people to get involved in businesses and other meaningful ventures as means of adding value to their lives and the state.

In the words of Diri; “There is nowhere in the world that the government does everything for you. Let us get involved in businesses. Take advantage of our skills acquisition programmes and that way you will add value to yourselves and Bayelsa State. That way youths will become productive.”

On the significance of the Easter celebration, Diri urged the people to learn from the lessons of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot and that of the doubting Thomas Didymus in the scripture.

The Governor urged Christians to imbibe the virtues of trust, honesty and faithfulness in order to have a better society.

In his sermon, the Bishop of Northern Izon Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev. Funkuro Amgbare, said the power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ brought about salvation for Christians.

Bishop Amgbare decried the moral decadence in the church saying that there was the urgent need for a reversal of the trend.