Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has called on the federal government to allow the people of the Niger Delta control their natural resources.

According to Diri, by so doing, the Niger Delta will pay taxes to the federal government like it is done elsewhere.

The Governor said this while speaking at the 15th memorial service for the late Rivers Governor, Melford Okilo on Tuesday.

He described the late politician as a nationalist who moulded him politically.

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Diri said he followed in Okilo’s footsteps, joined Ijaw activism, and was subjected to injustices that he always complained about and wanted to change.

The Bayelsa State Governor appealed to the political class to follow in the footsteps of the late Governor of Rivers and avoid a culture of violence just to gain political office.

Describing Okilo’s ideals, he called on President Bola Tinubu to reorganize Nigeria to address some of the injustices he suffered as well.