Vice President Kashim Shettima has said political office holders need to serve their fatherland with unwavering passion and firm dedication to good governance.
He said Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri embodies these virtues, which have endeared him to his people and beyond.
Shettima spoke yesterday at the public presentation of a book, titled: Leadership Chronicles of Governor Duoye Diri, a public lecture, and the institution of a professorial chair on leadership and good governance organised by University of Lagos (UNILAG) Consult Limited in honour of the Bayelsa State governor.
The book, authored and compiled by Prof Hope Eghagha and veteran media expert, Sola Ojewusi, provides a reflective journey through Diri’s stewardship as governor. It also chronicles his milestones in governance, crisis management, and developmental strides.
The Vice President, who was represented by Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, said: “The legacy we build today becomes the history told tomorrow. So, let us live with unwavering dedication to our duty. This is what Dr. Duoye Diri has embodied. This celebration is a testament to the unwavering service and dedication to good governance.”
Delivering the keynote address, Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang reflected on the nature of leadership.
He said: “Leaders are not extraordinary people. They are ordinary people lifted from amongst the people who share the passion of the people, the dreams of the people, and are ready to put their lives on the line in the pursuit of justice, fairness, and equity.’
Mutfwang offered a personal testimony to Diri’s “vehement zeal” in championing the cause of the Niger Delta.
Diri, who accepted the honour on behalf of the people of Bayelsa State, expressed gratitude to the authors and UNILAG for the honour they accorded his name.
“Going through the pages inspired me even more to remain steadfast in my duties,” Governor Diri said. “The development of Bayelsa has always been and will always remain my top priority. Every stride we make, every project we commission is for the prosperity of our people.”
Commenting on his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Bayelsa governor described the move as a strategic decision taken solely in the interest of Bayelsa.
According to him, the shift in political alignment was borne out of his desire to unlock new opportunities for the oil-rich state — a goal he said is better served within the ruling party’s political structure.
“I have no hidden agenda,” he declared. “My decision to join the APC was made with the best interests of Bayelsans at heart. It is about providing roads, improving security, boosting agriculture, expanding education, and creating jobs for our youth. With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, I am confident that the synergy we’ve built will lead to greater progress.”
A former Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, highlighted the unique nature of the event, saying real-time leadership documentation was a practice he had previously only seen in advanced democracies.
“Institutionalising real-time leadership with practical documentation is essential so that as we govern, it is documented… It’s something unique,” he stated.
Alaibe placed Diri’s governance within the larger context of the Niger Delta’s evolution – from violent struggles to peaceful development.
He affirmed the importance of the event with the adage: “When it is not written, as you journalists will say, it didn’t happen. Today it has been documented.”
The chief host and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola, stated that the university recognised leadership not merely as a position of authority but as a responsibility grounded in “service, integrity, accountability”.
She emphasised the timeliness of the event, saying: “Our country is at the verge of another cycle of emergence of leaders across different tiers of government.”
Ogunsola described the endowment of the chair as a “commendable step” that would provide a structured platform for research and mentorship, which is deeply needed “in this fledgling country”.
Quoting Nelson Mandela, she added that the initiative ensured Governor Diri’s life and governance would have a lasting significance by investing in education.
