Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has confirmed his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the state’s interest as the reason behind his decision.
Speaking on Sunday during the 14th Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day, Diri said, “Somebody had to take the decision, and I took it on behalf of the state. I took it in the best interest of the state. Some of you might not understand now, but later it will be clear to all.”
Diri’s decision comes after he resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15.
The governor emphasized that his administration’s focus has been on completing inherited projects, initiating new ones, and maintaining peace and security in the state.
Reactions to Diri’s Defection
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, described Diri’s defection as a strategic alignment with the centre, cautioning politicians to consider the implications of disloyalty.
Lokpobiri emphasized that Bayelsa State can no longer afford to be in opposition when key developmental decisions are being made at the centre.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Senior Policy Adviser, Funkekeme Solomon, urged Bayelsans to remain united, saying the state’s development depends on its cohesion. The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, lauded Diri’s “visible developmental strides,” describing him as “a godsend to the state”.
