Dare Babalola
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has declared that he will not force his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasising his commitment to respecting his deputy’s decision regarding the matter.
The governor’s statement comes amid speculations about his deputy defecting to the APC.
His deputy had previously sought a court injunction to prevent the state House of Assembly from impeaching him over his refusal to join the APC.
Recall that Diri was formally received into the APC on November 3, after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party on October 15.
Governor Diri emphasised his preference for engagement over confrontation as a principle during a State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Yenagoa on Wednesday, with Ewhrudjakpo in attendance.
He noted that while it is challenging for them to belong to different political parties, ongoing discussions with his deputy are yielding positive results.
Diri disclosed that the case filed by Ewhrudjakpo at the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt a purported impeachment plan had been discontinued following their discussions.
The governor called on the people of the state to prioritize unity and view politics as a tool for advancing development, rather than a source of division.
He said, “Let me address an issue that has been a subject of speculation in the media. I do not intend to force people to join the APC but rather to appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have the power today, but not tomorrow.
“It is actually difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another. But we will continue to talk, and we might end up at the same party tomorrow.
“We must not heat up the polity. We are done with violence in Bayelsa State. We are brothers and we are one. Politics should be for the development of the state and not to fight one another.”
Governor Diri debunked reports of armed men entering the state, labeling them as false rumors, while assuring that security agencies are on high alert to address any potential threats.
He reaffirmed the security status of Bayelsa State, one of the most peaceful in the nation, and urged citizens to report security matters to the authorities rather than spreading false information on social media.
