By David Owei

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday, received Kenyan lawyer and activist, Professor Patrice Lumumba and his wife, Celestine, in Government House, Yenagoa, with a call on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to intensify efforts at enforcing discipline and best practices among its members.

Governor Diri made the call when the executives of the Yenagoa Branch of the NBA, visited him to introduce the eminent professor who is in the state to deliver a keynote address at the plenary session of the 2026 Law Week.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, the Bayelsa Chief Executive emphasized the need for the NBA to work with other critical stakeholders to protect the ethical values and professional conduct among legal practitioners to forestall further erosion of the nobility and respect associated with their profession.

Governor Diri, however, commended the Yenagoa NBA for its vibrancy and commitment to promoting legal scholarship, public discourse and professional excellence.

According to him, the NBA Yenagoa branch was creating a platform through its 2026 Law Week for meaningful conversations that would inspire positive change and strengthen democratic institutions in Bayelsa and the country at large.

He, however, urged the Association to use the Conference as a peer review mechanism to ascertain where it was, where it is and where it is supposed to be in terms of global best practices in the legal profession.

Governor Diri, who described Professor Patrick Lumumba as a powerful voice for good governance, accountability, Pan-African development and principled leadership in Africa, urged the former Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to make Bayelsa his home.

His words: “We are especially delighted to learn that your 2026 Law Week will feature one of Africa’s most respected legal minds, a public intellectual and advocate of ethical leadership, Professor Patrick Lumumba, as the keynote speaker.

“Professor Lumumba is a known and powerful voice for good governance, accountability, Pan-African development, and principled leadership. His presence in Bayelsa is not only an honour to the Nigerian Bar Association, Yenagoa Branch, but also a valuable opportunity for intellectual engagement and reflection on the future of our nation and continent.

“The theme of your Law Week, ” Securing the Future”, is both timely and profound. It speaks to the collective responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens to build a society founded on justice, equity, accountability, and sustainable development.

“These are values Professor Lumumba has consistently championed and which align closely with the vision of the ASSURED Prosperity Administration.

“As a government, we commend the Yenagoa Branch of the NBA, for its commitment to promoting legal scholarship, public discourse, and professional excellence. We are particularly pleased that through this year’s Law Week, the branch is creating a platform for meaningful conversations that will inspire positive change and strengthen our democratic institutions.”

In his brief remarks, Professor Patrice Lumumba, noted that Nigeria still occupies an important position in Africa, stressing that whenever Nigeria punches its weight, the entire continent would realize her full potential.

Professor Lumumba, who expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and his wife, said it was his second visit to Bayelsa State, which he described as a strategic geographical location with high prospects of development.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association Yenagoa Branch, Mr. Clement Kekemeke, noted that the eminent Professor Lumumba was specially invited as keynote speaker NBA Law Week to give the programme an international visibility.

Expressing the NBA’s gratitude to Governor Diri and his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, for granting them audience, Mr. Kekemeke disclosed that the Yenagoa NBA currently boasts of over 1,500 practicing lawyers in its fold, making it one of largest in the South South geopolitical zone of the country.

The Yenagoa NBA Executives were accompanied on the visit by the Chairman of the Law Week Planning Committee, Mr. Jude Rex-Ogbuku, and an elder of the Bar, Chief Fedude Zimughan (SAN).

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Distinguished Senator Douye Diri the Governor of Bayelsa State is an epitome of peace and he is worthy to be celebrated as he clocks 67 today.

It is on record that regardless of any provocation, our dear governor would always put up a smile to douse that situation.

And you will never see him coming to national television to call names rather he is always ready to offer solutions to tackle that situation.

For instance, when so many Bayelsans rain insults on the governor on Social Media to not have met the deadline of December,2025, for the commencement of the Gas Turbine as promised,he took it in good faith.

What about the situation when he decided to leave the PDP for the APC,he consulted widely before leaving. But he never took it up with his late deputy governor to not have joined him to defect to the APC, rather he was able to tackle the situation as a peace loving governor.

It is also on record that the near crisis situation of the just concluded INC election, though, he directed the suspension of the inauguration.
Regardless of the end result,he rather prefers peace by setting up a reconciliation committee to handle the situation.

Indeed,my revered and highly respected, cherished and loving governor is 67 today.

As a result of the execution of life touching projects all over the State and with your peace loving nature,I am always praying for you to succeed.

Let me on behalf of my family, join millions of your admirers all over the world to say a big happy and resounding 67th birthday to our epitome of peace.

May you continue to be a shining light not only in Bayelsa State, but the entire Ijaw nation and Nigeria as a whole.

Even as I say, may God continue to bless and protect you today and always.

Congratulations !
Congratulations!!
Congratulations, my dear governor who is an epitome of peace.

Imgbi Gbalipre Stanley

By George Mgbeleke

In a bid eradicate Maleria in the country, Senate on Wednesday passed for third reading , a bill seeking the establishment of the National Agency for Malaria Elimination in Nigeria and other related matters .

This is as the sponsor of the bill , Senator Ned Nwoko ( Delta North ) assured Nigerians that the intendment of the bill was achievable and will make Nigeria the first country in Africa to be malaria free .

Passage of the bill for third reading by the Senate followed consideration and adoption of report presented by its committee on Health ( Secondary and Tertiary ) , Chaired by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo ( Rivers West ) .

The committee in the report explained to the Senate that the proposed agency, when established , will be responsible for coordinating all national efforts towards the prevention , control, and eventual elimination of malaria .

It specifically stated that ” The agency when established, will help shift the country ‘s approach from curative to preventive or elimination.”

The committee added in the report that for nationwide operation of the proposed agency , zonal and state offices shall be established and to be driven by strategic plan backed by law, science and accountability.

In his remarks after the passage of the bill for third reading , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio , described the legislation as a landmark as far as the war against Malaria is concerned being the commonest ailment in this part of the world .

Addressing journalists after passage of the bill, Senator Ned Nwoko said “elimination of Malaria in Nigeria , is practicable and achievable.

” In the course of my research on elimination of Malaria , I went to Antarctica with some of my legislative aides after which I came up with the bill , which was passed for second reading in May last year and third reading by the Senate today.

” Eradicating or Eliminating Malaria is achievable in Nigeria through a special agency for that purpose.

” The agency when established , shall through effective waste management, fumigation and research on vaccine , see to the elimination of malaria in Nigeria “, he assured .