Governor Diri, it is time to make Bayelsa a true glory of all lands
By GbaramatuVoice Editorial Board
It is a well established truth that Bayelsa state capital, Yenagoa, is susceptible to high risk of annual flooding.
It is equally a statement of fact that successive administrations in the state particularly Governor Douye Diri led administration have at different times and places made some appreciable efforts to make the state wear the attributes of a modern state through infrastructural provisions such as good road networks.
For instance, the Newspaper has in recent time witnessed the state under Governor Diri, construct some major roads in the states to aid vehicular movement within and outside Yenagoa, the state capital.
ALSO READ: GOVERNOR DOUYE DIRI: Redefining Governance, Uniting Ijaw Nation
The above efforts notwithstanding, GbaramatuVoice believes that there exists a higher reality about the state that every well meaning Ijaw man and woman should worry about.
These leadership gaps as spotted by GbaramatuVoice range from inadequate infrastructures to high levels of unemployment. Tragically unique is the inability of the state government to creatively turn the state to an entertainment and tourism hub despite the availability of natural sites and aquatic splendours in the state that could have been seamlessly utilized for such purposes.
There are two glaring examples that signposts the state government documented failure in the state tourism sector and calls for urgent reversal of such negative trends and culture.
First is the sorry state of the once bubbling Yenagoa Peace Park constructed for the purposes of promoting tourism in the state by the previous administrations. While the reason for such inaction on the part of the current administration remains, what is however most troubling to GbaramatuVoice is the fact that the Peace Park in question is directly opposite the state government.
The question begging for answer is; why must a state government abandon such a tourist centre that attracted tourism enthusiasts from across the globe and added beauty to the landscape of the state capital?
While answer(s) to the above question will be highly appreciated, another scorecard of failure in the tourism sector of the state is the improper management and condition of desolation of the state owned Golden Tulip Hotel.
GbaramatuVoice is particularly alarmed at the level of neglect, abandonment, dilapidation and outright mismanagement of the state owned edifice.
Even if the state has a sincere desire to develop the state, the Newspaper must on its part clarify that the current intervention is not targeted at apportioning blame to any administration. Rather, it is predicated on drawing the attention of the state to this colossal omission as well as pointing out to the relevant authorities why tourism should not be overlooked but given the needed attention that it deserves.
Yes, the state is rich in crude oil deposits and abundantly blessed with huge gas deposits. This fact notwithstanding, the state must not for any reason abandon the potential of tourism and the need to have it developed for optimum result.
Is the state government unmindful of the fact that a well coordinated tourism sector is the economic mainstay of some cities, states and nations across the globe? If the state government is aware of this truth, why are they not investing in the tourism sector of the state?
It is not in anyway a good commentary that a state like Bayelsa with all its God given resources (both human and resources) should be traveling to Port Harcourt, Uyo, Lagos or Abuja to go and host event because the state lacks a suitable event centre/hotel where world class event could be held. It is inacceptable.
It is on this note that the newspaper calls on the Senator Douye Diri led Bayelsa state government to urgently contemplate and consider investing in the development of the state tourism sector.
Thus, GbaramatuVoice suggests that developing the Oxbow Lake in the state into a world class tourist centre should be the best way for the present administration to start.
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