Rumors of Bayelsa State Governor Sen. Douye Diri's potential defection from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have resurfaced, with a group urging him to make the move.
This development comes as other South-South governors have already joined the APC. A group led by Wisdom Ikuli, the governor's Technical Adviser on Media and Convener of the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF), has called on Governor Diri to join the APC. Ikuli described the move as "sacrosanct and inevitable."
The group cited the potential benefits of joining the APC, including the possibility of federal projects being completed, such as the Agge Seaports, which could bring economic development and job creation to Bayelsa State.
While there have been previous rumors of the governor's defection, some of his aides had dismissed these claims.
He said, “Having said that, we wish to proceed to the crux, which is the need to appeal to His Excellency to take a decisive step to align with the government at the centre.
“Our fathers, High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and Chief (Sen.) Dr Melford Obiene Okilo admonished the Ijaw Nation to always align with the government at the centre, largely due to our distance from the centre and our difficult terrain, in order to attract development to our area.
“For instance, our adherence to their advice and our alignment with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that was the government at the centre helped Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation to produce the Vice President and later, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of this country in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Sadly, today, Bayelsans and Ijaws in general are not among the first 40 Nigerians from the Offices of the President, Vice President and Services Chiefs.
“Ijaws have been relegated and rendered politically and economically redundant and impotent because we are not with the government at the centre.
“Ironically, Ijaws who are the majority in terms of population in the geographic Niger Delta area (South South) and the fourth largest tribe in the country, and the Ijaw Nation that contribute well over 65 per cent of the oil and gas wealth that are used to run the affairs of the country have been rendered powerless because of our non-alignment with the ruling party.
“Again, there is a power-sharing and rotation system between the North and South. The North, having done their complete eight (8) years under late President Muhammadu Buhari, is supposed to support the South to complete their own eight years under incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is working round the clock to strengthen the South.
“Presently, Bayelsa State is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of South South. The above may not be too much issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by a few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsans in 2027, particularly those who intend to fly the flag of the PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.”
Ikuli noted that the ongoing coalition is an embodiment of people who conspired to deny the state and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation a second term at the Presidency in 2015, saying that the coalition can never be an option.
“It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show Southern solidarity with other Southern governors who are with Mr. President. But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity,” he said.
He stated that, over the next few days, the group, along with other stakeholders, will hold a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to urge the governor to take the necessary action.
He urged the governor to ignore all opposing voices against his defection, as most of them were fighting to protect their political interests without prioritising those of the state and the entire Ijaw Nation.
While applauding Diri for his uncommon development strides since he assumed office, Ikuli further reassured the governor that the vast majority of the Bayelsa people are with him and his determination to move the state forward.
