Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that only a truly God-fearing individual can succeed him as governor of the state.
Diri gave the admonition during the state's 15th Thanksgiving at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene-Yenagoa on Monday, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on November 2, 2026.
According to the statement, the governor asked anyone eyeing the office to prayerfully seek the face and approval of God, noting that nobody can say no to anyone okayed by God.
He said Bayelsa had been handed over to God, maintaining that the Almighty will always have the final say on affairs of the state.
The governor stressed the need for people of the state to remain united, tolerant and peaceful, saying it was the only way the state can witness the needed development.
He reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to continue to impact positively on the lives of the people, noting that it has the political will to transform the state which has one of the best environments for development.
He thanked the people for standing by his administration in the last six years plus.
“All who want to be governor, go and seek the face of God. Anyone who wants to be governor must be God-fearing. If God said yes, nobody can say no, not even me.
“Let us continue to worship God. Let us be tolerant and patient as we will become victorious at the end of the day.
“The Bible itself recognises that it is good to give thanks to the Lord. Today we came to say thank you Father.
“As I keep saying, those of us who were born in Yenagoa or know Bayelsa of old can see the difference today. It is enough to give thanks.
“We have one of the best environments in Nigeria and with the political will we are bringing development to our people.
“Dear people of Bayelsa, I thank you also for your support and for standing by this government,“ Diri was quoted as saying.
In a sermon, the guest preacher and former state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Very Rev. Joseph Opelema, who spoke on the theme: "Called to be Good Christians and Good Citizens," said Christians hold dual citizenship - citizens of the church and citizens of the society.
Drawing his message from Matthew 22:15-22, where the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus on payment of tax, he said His response: "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God" underscored the call for Christians to be good citizens.
According to the Catholic cleric, the Bible passage, which he said had often been misinterpreted, emphasised that Christians must bring the virtues of sacrifice, prudence, accountability, justice, love, care and charity to bear wherever they find themselves, especially in public office.
He lamented that there were many worshippers today but few live the Christian life, stressing that Jesus called on believers to be witnesses, salt of the earth, light of the world, and to use any public position in Bayelsa and Nigeria to serve and witness to Christ.
Rev. Opelema described Bayelsa as abundantly blessed with natural and human resources, good weather, land and rivers, capable of making it a tourism hub in Nigeria, adding that with a God-fearing leader, the state would in no time attain its full potential.
High points of the service were the unveiling of a book: "Lively Oracle" containing the scriptural declarations of the governor during morning devotions, and song ministrations by various Gospel artistes.
