AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OVER THE DECEPTIVE COMMISSIONING OF THE NON-FUNCTIONAL BAYELSA TURBINE

AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, A CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OVER THE DECEPTIVE COMMISSIONING OF THE NON-FUNCTIONAL BAYELSA STATE GAS TURBINE PROJECT

Your Excellency,

We write to you with utmost respect and a deep sense of patriotic responsibility, not only as an indigenes of Bayelsa State but also as a committed chieftains of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). This letter is driven by an unwavering commitment to the integrity of your administration and the ideals of your Renewed Hope Agenda.

At the outset, we wish to commend Your Excellency for your administration’s fiscal discipline and consistency in the disbursement of statutory allocations and intervention funds to states. These efforts clearly demonstrate your dedication to ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach all corners of our nation and empower subnational governments to deliver meaningful development.

However, it is with profound concern that we bring to your attention what appears to be a deliberate act of misrepresentation orchestrated by the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri.

Your recent visit to Bayelsa State to commission the Gas Turbine project has, unfortunately, sparked widespread public outrage. Contrary to the claims presented during the commissioning, the project is neither complete nor operational. What was showcased as a functional infrastructure is, in reality, far from meeting the basic requirements for operation. Since your departure, it has become evident to the people that the promised electricity supply remains non-existent, and the facility stands largely as an uncompleted structure.

This situation represents a serious misrepresentation to the Office of the President and a disservice to the good people of Bayelsa State. It also evokes memories of a troubling precedent during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo, when a similar incident involving former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili resulted in the commissioning of a gas turbine project that ultimately proved non-functional.

Prior to Your Excellency’s visit, concerned stakeholders, including a former Labour Party governorship candidate, Engineer Udengs Eradiri, and the President of Ijaw Youth Council, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, advised the Bayelsa State Government to conduct a comprehensive test run of the turbine to verify its operational readiness. Regrettably, this advice was disregarded. Instead, assurances were given that the project was fully completed and ready for commissioning.

In what now appears to be an attempt to reinforce this narrative, video footage was released shortly before your visit by one "TEAM GO, AND VERIFY", purportedly showing a test run of the turbine. Current realities strongly suggest that such claims were misleading, as no verifiable evidence of sustained operation exists.

Your Excellency, the use of presidential presence to legitimize incomplete or non-functional projects undermines public trust and risks tarnishing the credibility of your administration. It creates a false narrative of progress and contradicts the transparency and accountability that your government represents.

In light of these concerns, we respectfully urge Your Excellency to:

1. Request a detailed explanation from Governor Douye Diri regarding the true operational status of the Gas Turbine project.

2. Mandate an independent technical audit to objectively assess the level of completion and functionality of the project.

3. Ensure full accountability in the utilization of funds allocated for this critical infrastructure.

The people of Bayelsa State look to your leadership for justice, transparency, and genuine development. It is our firm belief that your administration will not allow public trust to be eroded by acts of deception or misrepresentation.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of our highest regards.

Yours faithfully, Concerned APC Stakeholders / Integrity Group (Bayelsa State)