Governor Diri, Jonathan, Celebrate Senator Amange At 70
….urges politicians to place State above personal interest
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has described Senator Nimi Amange as a distinguished Nigerian.
Speaking in Yenagoa during the 70th birthday celebration of the Senator who represented Bayelsa East in the National Assembly, the governor described him as a man of several parts who has a likable personality.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah quoted the Governor as saying the celebrant has every reason to be thankful to God to be alive at 70 and to have achieved his heart’s desires.
Governor Diri expressed delight that the people of the state have gathered in large numbers to celebrate Senator Amange, stressing that there is a need to celebrate people when they are alive, not only when they die.
His words: “We are moving away from celebrating dead, I like to join other Bayelsans to celebrate you at 70. That God has kept you and given you your heart desires is worth celebrating”.
“He’s a likable person, a man of many parts. For us he’s very lucky to be alive and writing his biography, we all join you to thank God. You went to thank God first in the church, that is great, for God has given us all we have today. We hope and pray that 70years is just the beginning for you and that you will love very long”.
He said the gathering across party lines proves that Bayelsa is united and urged politicians to continue to exhibit this level of political maturity, stressing that for the State to develop, politicians must put the interest of the State ahead of personal considerations.
In his remarks, former President Goodluck Jonathan described Senator Amange as a hard-working man who never forgets his family and people.
He expressed delight that at seventy, Senator Amange is still strong and urged him not to relent in his service to the people of the State and country at large.
He said “Let me join others to celebrate Senator Amange. When you live up to 70 years, it is worth celebrating. We are wishing you many more years in good health. Amange is somebody who has struggled for everybody and doesn’t forget his family. He has impacted his environment in many wonderful ways.
“At 70, you are still strong, please continue to lead us, you are a character that people of your kind are not many, we believe you still have a lot to offer. I thank everybody for coming and we wish Senator Amange a happy birthday”.
Responding, the celebrant, Senator Nimi Barigha Amange thanked the former President Jonathan, Governor Diri, and all others who made it to his birthday celebration and prayed to God to reward them abundantly.
He urged youths to shun vices and work hard if they must achieve greatness in life while also calling on parents to play their part in the upbringing of their children.