From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A former governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has disclosed that there is a political pact between Governor Douye Diri and the All Progressives Congress (APC) that would ensure the latter assume power in 2027.
Speaking in Yenagoa, Eradiri who recently dumped the LP for the APC, advised members of his party to collaborate with Diri, insisting that the governor had an understanding with the APC.
According to him, there is an alliance between Diri and the APC-led Federal Government, which would make Diri work for an APC candidate in 2027 after his second term.
Eradiri clarified that the agreement was primarily for the general development of Bayelsa and not for the governor’s selfish interest.
He said: “Governor Diri is in a political pact with us in the APC to collaborate to develop the state and in return, he will hand over the state to the APC in 2027.
“Diri is working with us in the APC and we are happy with his massive road projects to connect rural and riverside communities to the state capital.
“These road and infrastructural projects currently going on will help us to focus on other areas when APC takes over in 2027.”
Eradiri, a former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, appealed to members of the APC to respect the pact and stop antagonising the Diri-led administration.
“I call on the APC members in the state to stop throwing stones and casting aspersions on the Diri-led government. Bayelsa has moved from playing opposition and is now in alliance with the APC at the centre,” he added.
The former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment, said Diri’s foresight to partner with the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government was commendable.
He said the partnership was already yielding visible results across the state, especially in the Agge Road and Deep-Sea Port-Nembe-Brass Road, among others.
“APC members in Bayelsa should respect Governor Diri. He is working already with the APC-led Federal Government to hand over to APC in 2027, that is if he does not join us before then,” he stated.