Diri, Lokpobiri, Ogbuku Rally Igbos for Tinubu’s Re-election at Igbo Day Celebration in Bayelsa
By Jonah Fubara, YENAGOA – Prominent political leaders in Bayelsa State, including Governor Douye Diri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, have called on the Igbo community to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The leaders made the appeal on Saturday during the 2026 Igbo Day celebration organised by the Bayelsa State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in Yenagoa.
The celebration, which attracted prominent personalities, business leaders and members of the Igbo community, was held under the theme, “Onye Aghana Nwanneya”, meaning “Be Your Brother’s Keeper”.
Governor Diri, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, High Chief Collins Cocodia, urged the Igbo community and other residents of the state to support President Tinubu, whom he described as the right choice for Nigeria in the 2027 presidential election.
He attributed his administration’s call for continuity to the peace, security and infrastructural development recorded in Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta under the Tinubu administration.
Diri also assured non-indigenes, particularly members of the Igbo community, of his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and security in the state.
He disclosed that non-indigenes had been accommodated in more than 100 political appointments, including the position of Commissioner for Special Duties, describing the development as evidence of his administration’s inclusive governance.
The governor further noted that the security situation in Bayelsa had improved significantly, allowing residents and business operators to go about their activities with greater confidence.
Lokpobiri, who was represented by the Bayelsa State Director of the City Boy Movement, Chief Osom Blankson, also urged the Igbo community to vote massively for Tinubu in 2027.
He argued that the President had demonstrated commitment to national development, particularly through the establishment of the South East Development Commission to address the infrastructural and developmental needs of the region.
According to him, the creation of the commission represents an important intervention in bringing development closer to the South East.
He maintained that the Igbo people had more reasons to support the Tinubu administration, given what he described as its efforts to address the region’s developmental challenges.
Similarly, Ogbuku appealed to the Igbo community to reciprocate the Federal Government’s support for the South East through their votes in the 2027 presidential election.
The NDDC managing director, who donated a brand-new bus to Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa, highlighted some of the commission’s infrastructure interventions in the South East, including the Mbaise Bridge and the Ibi Bridge project.
He said the Federal Government had continued to demonstrate commitment to the Niger Delta and South East through development initiatives, adding that more projects were expected in the two regions.
Earlier, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Bayelsa State chapter, Dr Frank Odunukwe, announced the presentation of awards of excellence to six distinguished personalities in recognition of their contributions to society.
Among the award recipients were Governor Diri; Nazi Onuma Johnson; Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Richard Akinaka; Bayelsa Central Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Managing Director of Ayalla Group, Chief Robert Enogha; and Commander of the Police Tactical Team, Violent Crime Response Unit, CSP Chris Nwaogbo.
The celebration also attracted prominent Nigerian businessman and socialite, Obi Cubana, whose presence added glamour to the 2026 Igbo Day festivities in Yenagoa.
His appearance further highlighted the significance of the annual gathering as a platform for celebrating Igbo identity, culture, enterprise and community relations in Bayelsa State.
