𝗕𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗟𝗦𝗔 𝗔𝗣𝗖 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗚𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗜 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗜 𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗜𝗔

The Director General of the Bayelsa State APC Media Team, Mr. Aye S. O. Egberi, has faulted Governor Douye Diri’s recent comments on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), describing them as politically motivated, unfair, and a deliberate attempt to discredit one of the landmark achievements of the APC-led Federal Government.

Egberi reminded Governor Diri and Bayelsans that the PIA remained abandoned for over two decades, even when prominent Ijaw leaders held powerful positions in government. He stressed that Diri, who once served in the House of Representatives and later in the Senate, had every opportunity to advance the bill but failed to do so.

“Governor Diri was in the National Assembly for years but could not move the PIA bill beyond committee stages. Even during the tenure of an Ijaw President, the bill was left unattended. It took the courage, political will, and commitment of former President Muhammadu Buhari and our leader, Chief Timipre Sylva, to finally deliver this generational legislation. That is a fact Governor Diri cannot erase,” Egberi stated.

The APC Media DG emphasized that the 3% allocation to oil-producing host communities, rather than being dismissed, should be seen as a foundation to build upon. He pointed to ongoing projects in Nembe-Ogbolomabiri, including road rehabilitation and dredging works funded through the PIA, as proof that the law is already making an impact at the grassroots.

“If Governor Diri truly cares about our people, he should lobby our National Assembly members to push for an increment in the percentage, instead of dismissing the current gains. Communities are already benefiting after decades of neglect, and that deserves acknowledgment,” he said.

Egberi further advised Governor Diri to take advantage of his close friendship with the current Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, to secure more benefits for Bayelsa communities, rather than playing politics with development.

Egberi reaffirmed that the PIA remains “a generational breakthrough and one of the boldest reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.” He urged Governor Diri to put pride aside and appreciate the achievement of President Buhari and Chief Timipre Sylva, who succeeded where others failed.