Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said
he will not compel his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join him
in the All Progressives Congress (APC), following his own defection from
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on November 3.
Speaking during the weekly State Executive Council
meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday — with his deputy in
attendance — Governor Diri said he believes in “engagement rather than
confrontation,” and will continue to dialogue with Ewhrudjakpo.
The governor, who resigned from the PDP on October
15, acknowledged the political awkwardness of having a governor and deputy
in different parties but expressed optimism that their ongoing discussions
would produce a positive outcome.
“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 in the same party tomorrow,” Diri said.
He also confirmed that his deputy had withdrawn a
court case filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop a purported
impeachment move, saying the issue had been resolved amicably through dialogue.
Governor Diri urged Bayelsans to embrace peace and
unity, stressing that politics should be used as a tool for development, not
division.
“I do not intend to force people to join the APC but
rather appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have power today but not
tomorrow.
We must not heat up the polity. We are done with violence in Bayelsa State. We
are brothers, and we are one,” he said.
The governor also dismissed reports circulating on
social media about the influx of armed men into the state, describing
them as fake news. He, however, assured residents that security agencies
were on alert to forestall any possible threat.
“Bayelsa remains one of the most secure states in the
country. People should go about their normal businesses and report any security
issues to relevant authorities instead of spreading falsehood online,” Diri
added.
During the meeting, the Commissioner for Health,
Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, presented the state’s award as “Best State in
Health Insurance Service Delivery” from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum
to the governor.
Similarly, Sports Commissioner Dr. Daniel Igali
presented the “Distinguished Governor Award for Outstanding Support to SWAN
and Contribution to Sports Development in Nigeria”, conferred by the Sports
Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
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