The Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, has commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for embarking on projects that are changing the face of his state and positively impacting on the people.

The royal father gave the commendation on Sunday in his palace in Bauchi when Governor Diri paid him homage alongside his host, Governor Bala Mohammed. He said he is impressed with the reports of the Bayelsa governor's performance in office in less than two years.

The Bayelsa Governor became the emir's subject in February this year following his conferment with the title of Wakilin Kudu of Bauchi, which means "brave and courageous representative of the Bauchi emirate in the South."

Alhaji Adamu listed some of the projects embarked upon by the governor to include the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, Glory Drive Road, a gigantic media complex for the state newspaper and broadcast organisations as well as the 60-metric tonne cassava and starch factory among others.

"I remember vividly receiving you in this palace on February 21, 2021. That visit was very memorable. In recognition of your sterling qualities, the Emirate Council considered it worthy to confer on you a title that is reserved for brave, fearless and trusted personalities as the Wakilin Kudu of Bauchi. I congratulate you again.

"I must express our delight on this second visit to Bauchi and indeed the palace. We would not get tired of receiving His Excellency as long as he does not get tired of visiting his good friend, colleague and a Bayelsan by extension, Senator Bala Mohammed.

"It appears the two governors consult themselves on a daily basis when it comes to provision of the dividends of democracy. During your last visit, I enumerated some of the projects of your colleague-governor in Bauchi. Since that visit, there are many new projects with most of them completed and some ongoing.

"I have equally noticed with excitement the giant strides of your performance in Bayelsa State. Let me enumerate some of your projects such as the ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma road, proposed commissioning of a 60-metric tonne cassava and starch factory at Ebedebiri, ongoing Igbogene-AIT/Elebele outer ring road, ongoing Glory Drive road, the road linking Onopa community to the new GRA and the Royal Castle Hotel, the Igbedi community road among other projects."

The royal father prayed God to bless the governor with more wisdom for greater impact in governance.

Earlier, Governor Diri said the visit was a Sallah homage to the monarch as one of his subjects as it was still within the Ramadan season.

He explained that he was in the state for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors meeting holding on Monday but he had to arrive earlier so he could pay his respect to the royal father.

The Bayelsa helmsman recalled that apart from his cordial relationship with Governor Mohammed, the Ijaw nation and Bauchi had a long history of fraternal relations.

This, he said, dated back to the days of the former Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa, and Ijaw political leaders like the late Harold Dappa-Biriye and Senator Melford Okilo.

His words: "As one of your subjects, I came to see my royal father so that he can pray for me and to tap from his wisdom.

"For my brother governor, let me disclose that one of the key persons that engineered the process that made it possible for me to be governor was Senator Bala Mohammed. After finishing his assignment as chairman of the national campaign committee for my election, Senator Mohammed stayed back in Yenagoa for about another one week until after the election when the fake results were announced. He only grudgingly left Yenagoa back to Bauchi.

"But because the hand of God was upon me, the results were miraculously overturned in my favour and that of my party. So, I cherish the relationship with my senior colleague in the Senate and even as governors because he was in the Senate before me and became governor before me too. I and the people of Bayelsa appreciate you for all your support."

Governor Diri commended his Bauchi counterpart for his performance in office, saying everyone he interacted with since his arrival spoke of how well he had performed.

In his brief remarks, Governor Bala Mohammed said they were in the palace to appreciate the emir and the emirate council for the title conferred on his colleague.

Describing Senator Diri as a politician par excellence, Mohammed said Bayelsa was a second home as he always felt like he was in Bauchi whenever he was there.

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