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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has disclosed that his visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shortly after the Supreme Court verdict which upheld his election as President of Nigeria was to discuss affairs of Bayelsa State.
The viral video of the visit which showed Diri shaking hands with chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC) including the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and showing reverence while shaking the hands of Tinubu had eyebrows in the social media.
Opinions had been divided with some commending Diri while others frown at the visit suggesting he is trying to shift loyalty to Tinubu after behind one of the prime movers of the Atiku Abubakar campaign.
However, Diri in a bid to clear the air stated that as a sitting governor, there was nothing unusual in his visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday.
Speaking at Igbedi community in Constituency 2 of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state during the visit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign trail, Governor Diri said he was at liberty to congratulate President Tinubu following the Supreme Court verdict on the presidential election.
A statement by his spokesperson and member of the Publicity Directorate of the Bayelsa PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying he was at the presidential villa to discuss serious state matters with the president, who he said attended to the issues positively.
The Bayelsa governor contended that he was not disturbed by the speculations and lies of the opposition, who he said became jittery because of the visit, stressing that propaganda had been the hallmark of their politics.
He said the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship election remained disqualified based on the first amended list of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and urged the Bayelsa electorate not to waste their votes on a party that is not on the ballot.
Diri, who noted he was not in Igbedi to campaign, said the projects of his administration in the community were evident.
The state helmsman assured that during his second tenure he will construct a road linking Igbedi to Kaiama, which will create a better access to and fro the Bayelsa International Airport from the East-West road and the Delta State axis.
His words: ” I was in Abuja and most of you saw the video trending. The opposition is now jittery and are telling lies. Of course, that is in their character.
“As a sitting governor, there is a sitting president and I do not owe them any explanation about my visit to the president.
“If the Supreme Court affirms the president of the country, as a sitting governor I reserve all the rights to visit him. But beyond that, I went for very serious state business and I can tell you that Mr. President attended to all the issues I raised.
“Those whose names have been delisted by amendment number one of INEC can no longer sleep. They will continue to have sleepless nights.
