There have been rumours of the governor’s defection ever since other fellow South-South governors had all decided to join the ruling APC, but such talks have been dismissed by some of his aides in the past, until Tuesday’s declaration by a group led by his Technical Adviser on Media, Ikuli.
Addressing some stakeholders and journalists in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday, Ikuli, the Convener of the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF), said the call for the governor to join the APC was sacrosanct and inevitable.
Ikuli mentioned the uncomplicated projects abandoned by successive Federal Governments, including the Agge Seaports and numerous other projects, which he said will not only open Bayelsa to the world but also usher in economic development for the state and job creation for its citizens.
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 Bayelsans are with him and his determination to move the state forward.
