ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
A group of politicians loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has warned Governor Douye Diri against allowing politicians to compromise the existing power shift and rotation agreements in Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
The politicians, mainly from Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas of the state, under the auspices of the Bayelsa West Patriotic Front (BWPF), urged Governor Diri not to be deceived by the accolades and encomiums showered on him during the Yuletide by some political gladiators in the district.
National Coordinator, BWPF, Comrade Owei Ebiagbe, in a statement on Wednesday, urged Diri to remain committed to the principle of rotation in the senatorial district based on equity, fairness and sense of belonging in the party.
The BWPF said the encomiums and accolades were an open fact on the ground and known by the people that Governor Douye Diri had done well in areas of good governance, peace, security and infrastructure development.
It, however, said the decision of some self-centred politicians to re-echo it was allegedly a suspicious move to curry favour and scuttle the existing rotation agreement in the district.
Ebiagbe, in the statement entitled, ‘Bayelsa West and the Politics of 2023/24’, said that despite the theatrics allegedly being displayed by a certain politician in his bid to scuttle the existing rotation agreement, Diri should stand firm to uphold the peaceful co-existence in the ruling PDP.
He advised that Governor Diri must show true statesmanship and upright leadership qualities he had been known for in the last two years.
He noted: “We are very conversant with the existing peace accord in the rotation principle which he (Diri) also helped to canvass while a certain politician was openly declaring that he would only complete the unexpired term of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, now deputy governor of Bayelsa State.
“It will be a hallmark of honour and integrity for Diri to stay true to his words and his calling as the leader of the state and ensure that no matter whose ox is gored, he remains firm and uphold the truth of this very unfortunate development as being orchestrated by the politician, one who should stand tall on the altar of honour but has chosen to fall to the tempting beauties of political office.
“We want to remind Governor Diri that in taking this route, the unnamed politician should be reminded that no one can play God. He should be reminded again that God used him to salvage the people when a certain politician from the district attempted to toe this path of dishonor.
“The Governor needs to know that his handling of this present situation will surely determine his acceptance and his chances of re-election. Ekeremor and Sagbama people have set a trap for him and if he falls into it, he will have the entire Sagbama and Ekeremor move against him.
“His actions in standing tall for truth and upholding the people’s position will further raise his acceptance as a true and fearless leader and this will give him a second tenure given his present record.
“But we can authoritatively submit that if Governor Diri supports the politician, irrespective of his victory or failure, he is going to lose massive political support and will not be re-elected.
“Any action to the contrary will be counter-productive to say the least and 2023/2024 will be greatly determined by the actions in Bayelsa West Senatorial district and like a tidal wave it will reshape and redefine the politics of the state.”
He urged politicians to honour such existing agreements in order not to further heat up the polity and create disunity in the state, noting that rotation abounds in such agreements in Senate and Federal Constituency.
Ebiagbe added that in the Bayelsa East, both the Senate and Federal Constituency had such similar rotational principles couched in agreements between the Ogbia, Nembe and Brass people.
He said it was the reason Senator Ben Murray-Bruce was allegedly refused to return to the Senate even though he was absolutely qualified.