Immortalisation: Bayelsa gov’t names civil servants’ quarters after the late Navy Captain Olubolade

From Amgbare Prince in Yenagoa

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has honored the late Navy Captain Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade (retd), former Military Administrator, by renaming the civil servants quarters at Ovom after him.

Speaking at a service of songs held Friday at St. John Military Protestant Church, Bonny Cantonment, Victoria Island, Lagos, Diri hailed Olubolade as a true Bayelsan for his unwavering commitment to the state’s development.

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Olubolade, who died on May 15, 2025, at 71, served as Bayelsa’s Military Administrator from June 27, 1997, to July 9, 1998, following the state’s creation in 1996.

Diri highlighted Olubolade’s contributions, including the Samson Siasia Sports Complex and Ekeki motor park, as evidence of his love for Bayelsa.

“He was from Ekiti, but today, I declare him a son of Bayelsa,” Diri said, referencing Olubolade’s 70th birthday celebration in Yenagoa in 2024.

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Quoting Jim Reeves’ “This world is not my home,” Diri described Olubolade’s tenure as one of passion and integrity, noting plans to honor him during Bayelsa’s 30th anniversary.

The renaming of the quarters, built under Olubolade’s administration, aims to immortalize his legacy.

Rear Admiral Ayodeji Olugbode, representing the Chief of Naval Staff, mourned Olubolade as a diligent officer whose loss resonates beyond his family to the military and nation. Amb. Boladei Igali of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) echoed this, calling Olubolade a remarkable leader.

The event drew prominent figures, including First Lady Dr. Gloria Diri, former First Lady Dr. Patience Jonathan, and traditional rulers like King Bubaraye Dakolo. Diri emphasized, “We mourn, but we celebrate a life of impact.”