From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Amid a cold war between Governor Douye Diri and his predecessor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson ahead of the commencement of campaigns for the 2023 elections, available information indicates that majority members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have decided to invest their hope in the governor of the oil-rich state.

Majority of the members point to Diri’s brand of politics and his growing influence within the top hierarchy of the party in Abuja especially the success recorded with the Osun governorship election as a major factor that has swayed majority of the members to keep faith with Diri to lead the party.

Unknown to many party members, when Diri was given the responsibility to lead the Osun governorship campaign, some national party leaders were said to have been uncomfortable given what they described as his relatively low experience in leading a major campaign.

His non-attendance at the inauguration of the campaign council due to an overseas trip compounded the doubt in him but he changed the narrative when he came and headed to Osogbo with his political strategists from Bayelsa and an equally large contingent, a sign of the commanding respect he has among party members.

The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Timothy Igbifa noted that the outcome of the Osun governorship election has vindicated Diri on his capacity and loyalty to the party.   

According to Igbifa, the outcome of the Osun State governorship election is a testament of the capacity, commitment and loyalty of Diri.

He explained that Diri as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) campaign council in Osun, proved that an Ijaw man could be trusted to deliver in a national assignment.

Igbifa, who congratulated Diri for piloting the success of his party in Osun, said the victory of PDP had brought shame to the enemies of the Bayelsa governor and the Ijaw nation within the PDP, who had earlier conspired to make the Bayelsa governor fail in his first national party assignment.

He said: “As a council, we noticed that some PDP leaders were not happy that an Ijaw man was appointed to handle the Osun electoral matters. They conspired against Governor Douye Diri to make him fail in his first national party assignment.

“They referred to him as an inexperienced politician and tried to demean and relegate him to the background. But man is not God. Diri triumphed as a miracle governor and delivered a resounding victory to his party”.

Igbifa observed that Diri undertook extra measures including resolving the internal crisis in the Osun PDP few days to the election to perfect his party’s success at the poll.

“We observed that our brother, Diri, went extra miles to perfect his party’s victory at the poll. The Bayelsa governor murdered sleep, held various meetings to reconcile warring stakeholders in his party. As a peacemaker, he demonstrated the dogged spirit Ijaws are known for to bring victory to his party”, he said.

The IYC boss called on all Ijaw stakeholders to always support their leaders and pray for them to succeed in their national assignments instead of joining enemies of Ijaw nations to pull them down.

He said: “We must unite to support our own, especially when they are handling national assignments. We should resist the selfish inclinations to engage in pull down syndrome. We are glad that despite all obstacles placed in his way, governor Diri represented the Ijaw nation well and gave victory to his party.

“We also thank the PDP and the people of Osun for entrusting the Bayelsa governor with such an assignment. As a council, we will always support our kinsmen in their efforts to break into political limelight and be reckoned with in national politics despite their leanings.

At the reception held for him after he returned to the state, many party members admitted that the PDP Osun governorship victory is a sign that Diri can lead PDP to electoral victory in Bayelsa State.

His deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo called on the people of the state to continue to give their undivided support to Diri for more performance in the years ahead.

Also confirming absolute faith in Diri, the Chairman of the party, Solomon Agwanana who said what Diri recorded in Osun is a tip of what he can do implore party members to forge a united front

“What is recorded in Osun is a little out of what Gov. Diri has recorded. He has not failed the PDP and the people. All members of the PDP in the state must act responsibly. The bond of unity in the PDP is shining and God did what happened in Osun.”

Bayelsa State Health Commissioner, Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele speaking on the level of acceptance of Diri said his brand of politics is being appreciated.

“Governor Diri’s peaceful disposition as a leader, his strategic political steps and his continued actions to uphold the party ideology are part of reasons why the Bayelsa State governor is recognized among the league of political leaders that are committed to the expectations of Nigerians to rescue the

Nigerian State from syndrome of corruption and visible signs of underdevelopment that has almost relegated the country to a failed state. I urge party faithful and all Bayelsans across political affiliation to pray for the governor to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state,” he said.

In an interview, former secretary to the state government and former Ambassador, Felix Oboro scored Diri in performance and human relations. According to him, Diri’s successes in national politics and brand of politics at home have cleared the pathway for PDP’s victory in 2023.

Oboro who had dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected back to the PDP  dismissed APC as a party to pull any weight in 2023 elections, said PDP would clear all the elections because of Diri’s personality. 

“First in the state, PDP chances of winning are 95%. The governor is doing well. If you go to Nembe, what he is doing for them, they appreciate it, if you go to Kolokuma/Opokuma, Brass, Ogbia, Sagbama, Ekeremor and the other local government areas, the governor is doing well. He has human relations, he interacts well. The governor does not harass his commissioners, even if you have an opinion against him, he would discuss with you and give you his point of view, that is administration. The governor is doing and with the scarce funds at his disposal, he is trying his best. Everybody is satisfied. Unless people with sinister intentions, otherwise with the way the governor is going, nobody can defeat him.”

To douse tension between him and Dickson, Diri categorically declared that there is no rift between them to reassure teeming members of the party.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabarah,  Diri accused some unnamed persons of trying hard to cause friction between himself and Senator Dickson.

He noted that he had chosen to ignore the plot of these individuals adding that his responsibility as the governor is to unify the people of the state and galvanize them towards development.

The statement reads in part: “In recent weeks, following the rise in political activities, some individuals and groups have engaged in spinning all manner of narratives, based on their own assumptions.

“It is discernible that their intention borders on mischief to create a perceived and imaginary wedge between me and my predecessor in office, Senator Seriake Dickson, on one hand, and within our political family in the Peoples Democratic Party, on the other.

“Deliberately, I chose to ignore such reckless but obviously sponsored reports, largely on the social media space and online platforms.

“Consistent with my character, temperament and governance ideals, I have restrained and directed my media aides from joining issues or responding to some of these spiteful reports.

He continued, “One of my responsibilities at the helm of leadership in Bayelsa State is to engender peace and to unify our people as the irreducible catalyst for good governance and development of our state.

“At every opportunity, I have unfailingly acknowledged and given due respect to my predecessors, in particular the man that handed the governance baton to me. It is therefore an exercise in futility for those trying to sow seeds of discord.

“For the benefit of doubt, I have no rift with my immediate predecessor. Our relationship remains cordial and mutually respectful.

“I therefore urge our people to ignore such reports and regard them as the handiwork of mischief-makers that do not mean well for our state and its progress. My administration is on course, remains focused and cannot be distracted regardless of how much our detractors try.”

Political observers are of the view that the recent visit to council headquarters in the state was a way to shore up support ahead of the kick-off of campaigns. The feedback from the people after commissioning of various projects at the council headquarters has given Diri the needed confidence that PDP is in good stead as the election approaches. 

In an address to cabinet members at the 85th State Executive Council, Diri urged members of the cabinet to keep up the good work because Bayelsans are happy with the government.

“So far, the reports we have received from the public indicate that you are doing well and, by extension, we are doing well.

“So, I charge you once again that in this second half of our third year in office to do more than what you have already done. It is very likely that you will feel that you have done so much. But you are running a race and until you have crossed the line, you have not won.”