My Defection to APC is in The Best Interest of Bayelsa, Governor Diri
By Jide Dominic –Â Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has reiterated that the bold and decisive step of crossing over to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) was borne out of his desire and interest to move Bayelsa State to the next level of development.
Gov. Diri who stated this during the official ceremony marking his defection to APC admist huge crowd further explained that he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) basically because of the unending internal rancours and wranglings occassioned by the power tussle among powerful individuals in the party that have torn the party apart, stressing that aligning with the Federal Government’s APC is in the best interest of Bayelsans as a whole.
He also said that he did his best to resolve the crisis that rocked the party to no avail, noting with dismay that his former party had been hijacked by some undertakers who were bent on destroying the party and had no choice than to join the ruling party at the center to safeguard the political future of his teeming followers.
He also pointed out that President Bola Tinubu’s love for the development of the state and the Ijaw nation generally through the construction of the Lagos/ Calabar coaster road, the second phase of the Nembe/Brass road and the #4bn tax waiver granted the state when he procured the 60mw gas turbine for the state informed his decision.
“In his words, On October 15, I did something after due consultation with elders and members of the state House of Assembly and afterwards, resigned from the PDP for obvious reasons. My defection is not only for Bayelsa. It is also for Ijaws in Ondo, Edo, Delta, Rivers any Akwa-Ibom states”
” I will not denigrate my former party. We were happy with it until some undertakers destroyed it”
Some Serving Senators from the state, Kombowei Benson, Benson Agadaga as well as former Senator Ben Bruce and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abraham Ngobere were also received into the state at the ceremony.
While welcoming the new members, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima and the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, some state governors and other leaders of the party said the joining of APC by Gov Diri has handed him the authomatic leader of the party in the state.
” Today, you have shown us that Bayelsa has chosen the light of national integration over shadows of political isolation. The APC is the party of those who believe that progress can only be guaranteed when we answer the call of the people”, Shettima said.
On his own part, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Diri for steering the state on the part of peace and congratulated him for taking the bold step by moving the affairs of the state in the right direction.
High point of the occasion was the presentation of the of broom, the official symbol of the party and the flag of APC to Gov Diri by its National Chairman, Yilwatda, thanking Bayelsans for speaking with one voice through the governor.
Dignitaries present at the event include Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, Gov. Sherriff Obrevweori of Delta State, Pst. Eno Umo of Akwa Ibom state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state, Ahmed Ododo of Kogi state and Monday Okpebolo of Edo state, among others.
