Senator Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa State, has called on residents to turn out in large numbers for President Bola Tinubu's planned visit on April 10, 2026. Speaking during an Easter Sunday service at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Diri described the visit as a moment of pride and a chance to display Ijaw hospitality. He confirmed that Tinubu would inaugurate key projects, including the 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma bridge, a development Diri called a historic milestone for Southern Ijaw. The governor emphasized that the projects align with his administration's agenda for economic transformation, particularly through improved infrastructure and power. He urged Bayelsans to maintain unity and peace, calling it a core value of the Ijaw people. "I call on all Bayelsans to come out en masse to welcome Mr. President and accord him the hospitality that we are known for," Diri said. "We are known for peace and unity. Let us continue to uphold these values as we move forward as one people."
Douye Diri is using President Tinubu's 2026 visit to reinforce his administration's development narrative ahead of a key election year. The focus on the Angiama-Oporoma bridge and power projects suggests infrastructure will be central to his political messaging. For Nigerians in Bayelsa, this signals that visibility and federal recognition may shape how public projects are timed and showcased. Political mobilization under the guise of cultural hospitality is becoming a familiar playbook.
