Bayelsa State governor Douye Diri, on Sunday, said that that much more than the offering of palliatives is required to remedy the current economic situation of the country.
He stated thiis during the Easter Sunday service at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in his community, Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who read the first and only lesson at the service taken from the book of John 20:1-18, said though he was not against palliatives, he was more concerned with putting in place the right structures and systems to address the economic challenge.
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Diri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, on Sunday, said that his administration was initiating policies and programmes that would bring about long-term empowerment to people of the state rather than short-term palliatives.
He explained that the government is tackling manpower shortage and the skills challenge by establishing technical colleges in the eight local government areas, embarking on skills acquisition programmes, building roads to connect the hinterlands as well as other infrastructure that would bring socio-economic empowerment to the people.
The governor also stressed that the government alone cannot provide for everyone and called on the people to get involved in businesses and other meaningful ventures toward adding value to their lives and the state.
He said, “On our part, the long-term solutions that we are putting in place are the technical colleges, the skills acquisition programmes, roads and other infrastructure and not palliatives that are short-term measures.
“There is nowhere in the world that the government does everything for you. Let us get involved in businesses. Take advantage of our skills acquisition programmes, and that way, you will add value to yourselves and Bayelsa State. That way, youths will become productive.”
On the significance of the Easter celebration, Diri urged the people to learn from the lessons of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot and that of the doubting Thomas Didymus in the scripture.
He advised that Christians should imbibe the virtues of trust, honesty, and faithfulness in order to have a better society.
In a sermon, the Bishop of Northern Izon Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev. Funkuro Amgbare, said the power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ brought about salvation for Christians.