Defect To APC, Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Told Gov Diri. By Chris Mark
Defect To APC, Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Told Gov Diri.
Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum, CBSF, has called on the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri to defect to the All Progressive Congress,APC.
The forum which comprises of men and women from various political parties, including non-partisan Bayelsans, non-indigenes and different religious groups resolved to hold daily rally to prevail on the governor to defect.
Speaking During a World Press Conference in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital, the convener, Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, on behalf of the forum appeal to the governor to take a decisive step to align with the government at the centre.
According to Ikuli, the founding fathers of Ijaw nation such as 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 distance from the centre and difficult terrain in order to attract development to the area.
While giving instance, he said adherence to their advice and alignment with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that was 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 the country in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan.
His words “Sadly, today Bayelsans and Ijaws in general are not among first 40 Nigerians from the Offices of the President, Vice President and Service 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, Ijaw Nation that contribute well over 65% 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.
However, the convener who’s also one time spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC thanked the President for graciously appointed illustrious sons and daughters of Ijaw Nation and Bayelsa State in particular into key offices.
“We appreciate appointment of Very Distinguished Senator Heineken Lokpobiri Ph.D as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Chief Samuel Ogbuku as MD of NDDC, Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as MD of NDDBA, Hon. Preye Aganaba as the Executive Director of Human Resources in the newly established South South Development Commission (SSDC), Mr. Agama as DG of the Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission. Among other notable appointments.
“We also thank President Tinubu for approving Federal Government take over of the Second Phase of the Nembe-Brass Road that will help to link the Ocean where the vast wealth of Bayelsa State is” he said.
With the recent defection of both the governor’s of Delta and Akwa Ibom State. Presently, Bayelsa State is the only PDP state in the South South which Ikuli said may not be too much issue but that the greatest challenge is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the traps they have set for Bayelsans in 2027 particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
The forum further appeal to the governor to show Southern Solidarity with other Southern Governors who are with Mr. President, noting that the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualization of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity.
Adding that those with strong memories can attest to the fact that since the inception of the ASSURED Prosperity administration till date tremendous changes and Achievements have been made in most sectors of the state.
“Besides total restoration of peace, unity and security to the state that was always in the news for negative reasons, the ASSURED Prosperity administration’s has done so much in the area of health.
” Today, Bayelsa is among the few states that deploy Drones to deliver drugs and other medical essentials to remote areas that are difficult to access by road and even river.
“Gov. Douye Diri has not only done so much in the education sector, he has revived Boarding School system and Technical Colleges with Bayelsa state boasting of some of the best, well equipped Technical Colleges that offer free accommodation, free feeding, tuition free with other basic educational items that encourages students to study hard in very conducive environments and atmosphere.
“Huge investment of government in sports is yielding very positive results to the extent that Bayelsa State that was relegated in most sporting events years ago, now dominates National Sports.
“The sweet stories in the area of roads and bridges are almost unimaginable and unbelievable. Worthy of commendation are the Yenagoa-Angiama-Otuan-Oporoma road, the Nembe-Brass road, the Phases 2 and 3 of the Glory Drive, the New Yenagoa City, the Polaku-Sabagriea road, the 9-Storey New State Secretariat, the Agge road to link the world to the ongoing Agge Seaport project, the Imgbi Bridge. The list is almost endless.
“We also commend the giant strides of His Excellency in the area of Women and Youth empowerment. We appreciate his prioritization of workers welfare. In particular, we commend how he treats workers who are the engine of the state as kings and queens.
“We must say at this point that His Excellency deserves encomium because we can go on with the litany of his good works even though today’s World Press Conference is not centred on the above.
“But before going to the crux, it is pertinent to state that one of the best ways to encourage public workers and others to do more is to commend and appreciate their immeasurable and invaluable sacrifices. It is on this very note that we unanimously pass a VOTE OF CONFIDENCE on His Excellency, Very Distinguished Senator Douye Diri in recognition of his selfless service to our great state and the Ijaw Nation in general” He noted.
