Jonathan: Bayelsans Will Always Be Grateful to Abacha for Creating Bayelsa State

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said Bayelsa State will always remain grateful to the late former head of state, General Sani Abacha, for creating a homogeneous state out of the former Rivers State in 1996. Jonathan made the remark during the 30th anniversary celebration of Bayelsa's creation and an award ceremony held in Yenagoa on Thursday night, October 1, 2026. During the event, Jonathan dedicated his award to his late boss and political mentor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who brought him into politics as a deputy governor. He acknowledged that despite skepticism from many young people who question what Bayelsa has to celebrate at 30, the state has made significant progress. "Although we have not reached where we are supposed to be, I am happy where we are. I am happy that Bayelsa State was created, and we have gained tremendously. Most people might not know, we have gained tremendously following the creation of the state," Jonathan said. "Bayelsans will always remain grateful to late Gen. Sani Abacha who made it possible for Bayelsa to be among the last six states he created." Jonathan also commended Governor Douye Diri for organizing the anniversary and honoring those who worked for the creation and development of the state. In his remarks, Governor Diri paid tribute to Abacha, expressing gratitude on behalf of the Ijaw nation for the creation of Bayelsa on October 1, 1996. He said Abacha deserved continuous commendation for freeing the Ijaw people from oppression and injustice. Diri explained that mentioning Abacha's name in all his remarks was significant, noting that the late Head of State might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he was the one who freed them by creating a homogeneous Ijaw state. "If at every point in my remarks I keep calling him, it is because of what God used him to do for the Ijaw ethnic nationality. As I said yesterday, General Abacha might mean different things to different people, but to Bayelsans, he is the one who freed us from oppression," Diri said. "He freed us from injustice and gave a homogenous state for a people that had been balkanised into various states, and making us minority in some." Those honored at the event included the late Abacha, Jonathan, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, former military administrators of the state including the late Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni (rtd), Police Commissioner Habu Daura (rtd), and Col. Edor Obi (rtd), as well as the immediate past governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.