ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Many members of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State have dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration of Governor Douye Diri on Friday.
The defectors from Agrisaba in Nembe Local Government Area was led by Comrade Ebinabo Jumbo, a former chieftain of the APC.
Jumbo explained that their decision to leave the APC for the PDP was largely informed by Governor Diri’s disposition towards the unity and development of the state.
He noted that in less than two years in office, Diri had shown genuine commitment to good governance through its people-oriented policies, programmes and development projects in an unbiased manner.
Another reason for their defection to the PDP, according to Jumbo, is that it had become crystal clear to them that the APC had no direction and vision for Bayelsa.
The former APC stalwart said he and his teeming supporters worked for the party for several years and had realized that the APC only allegedly thrived on deception, falsehood, and propaganda.
Pledging total support to the PDP-led state government, Jumbo assured the PDP that they would contribute meaningfully to greater success of the party and the present administration.
He said: “Your Excellency, I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that the APC has no vision for Bayelsa. They are so disorganized. In fact, they only thrive on falsehood, insincerity and nepotism.
“We can no longer stay in a party where they have decided not to see anything good in the present administration. Personally, that is not the kind of politics I believe in.
“We have seen that the current leadership under Governor Douye Diri has the interest of the ordinary people and not just big politicians and businessmen. We have seen that through his policies and programmes so far.
“We like to also place on record that the Governor’s disposition to peace, unity and good governance is unprecedented in the state. We are also moved by his laudable achievements in the area of road infrastructure.
“Keep politics aside, I personally believe, we need to be sincere to ourselves. Although Bayelsans including us here expect to see more like Oliver Twist, we must appreciate what the Governor’ is doing and support him.”
Receiving the returnees in Government House, Governor Douye Diri applauded them for their wise and courageous decision to come back to the PDP, which he described as their rightful home.
Diri, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also commended them for their kind words of encouragement and called on all who left the PDP to return and work with his administration to build the state.
He urged the people not to allow the APC to deceive them anymore, stressing that apart from propaganda and blackmail, the party has nothing good to offer the state and the country in general.