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

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) extends warm Eid-el-Kabir greetings to Muslim faithful across Nigeria and around the world as we join millions in celebrating this sacred season of sacrifice, faith, obedience, and compassion.

In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary of ADC,Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
,” As a party, we recognise that this year’s Sallah is coming at an exceptionally difficult period for many Nigerians. Across the country, millions of families are struggling under the weight of rising food prices, worsening economic hardship, unemployment, and growing insecurity. Many citizens are uncertain about tomorrow, and many homes are carrying burdens heavier than they have ever known.

“Yet, even in moments like this, we believe Nigerians must not lose hope in the future of our country.

“Eid-el-Kabir reminds us that faith is most meaningful in difficult seasons. This lesson is especially important for Nigeria today.”

Continuing he said “as a party believe deeply that beyond the hardship and frustration of this moment lies the possibility of a stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation. We believe in a Nigeria where real leadership works for the people, where young people can dream again, where farmers can return safely to their farms, where businesses can grow, and where ordinary citizens can once again live with dignity and hope.

“As Nigerians celebrate this Sallah, we urge all citizens not to surrender to the despair that is widespread under this government. The darkness of today must not blind us to the possibilities of tomorrow. History has shown that nations recover when citizens refuse to stop believing in a better future.

“We also call on leaders across all levels to reflect seriously on the deeper meaning of responsibility during this season.

“This Sallah, we pray for peace across our country, healing for hurting communities, relief for struggling families, and unity among Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines.

“Above all, we remain confident that Nigeria can still rise again.”