A political pressure group, the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum, CBSF, has called on Governor DouyeDiri to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and join the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The group’s convener, Mr. Wisdom Ikuli, made the call on Tuesday in Yenagoa, encouraging stakeholders to back efforts to align Bayelsa more closely with the Federal Government.
Ikuli, who also serves as Governor Diri’s Technical Adviser on Print Media, explained that the CBSF is a non-partisan body comprising members from diverse political affiliations, including non-indigenes.
He stressed the need for Bayelsa to promptly align with the APC, claiming that numerous PDP members had allegedly colluded to deprive Bayelsa and the Ijaw people of the Presidency in 2015.
He claimed that there are plans to take advantage of the PDP’s internal disputes and ongoing court cases to disqualify candidates who emerge from the party ahead of future elections.
Ikuli emphasized that Bayelsa is now the only PDP-controlled state in the South-South and warned that it is dominated by a handful of individuals who could pose electoral threats ahead of 2027.
He disclosed that the CBSF would soon launch daily street rallies in Yenagoa to press Governor Diri to consider defecting to the ruling APC.
Ikuli maintained that the governor’s defection is crucial for Bayelsa’s interests and should be regarded as both non-negotiable and imperative.
See also Terrorism financing: NLC mobilises for nationwide strike over Ajaeros invitation Following the ongoing face-off between it and Nigeria Police, the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress has asked its members to be ready to commence a nationwide strike if need be by midnight of Tuesday. The labour centre said in a communique issued after its emergency National Executive Council in Abuja that it had directed all the state chapters and affiliates to mobilise workers for an indefinite strike from midnight if anything happened to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who was invited by the police for questioning over terrorism financing allegation. The police invitation to Ajaero comes weeks after policemen conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, while justifying the raid, said the police were on the trail of one of the terrorists who masterminded the crisis in Sudan. The police added that the raid was to search for seditious materials in connection to the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance or hunger protest, which turned violent in parts of the country, particularly in the North, where some protesters were seen waving the Russian flag and demanding President Bola Tinubus resignation. On Monday, the police said Ajaero should appear for questioning at 10 am over allegation of terrorism financing and treasonable felony. But the NLC National Executive Council convened an emergency for Tuesday morning to weigh the situation. Rising from the meeting, the NLC leadership, in their communique, said they viewed Ajaeros summon as a clearly unfounded and politically-motivated investigation. In the communique signed by NLC Deputy President, Ado Sani Minjibir, the congress warned that it will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilising their members across the nation. The congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the state; NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils alert to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 midnight today. The NLC also called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the union at this critical moment. The meeting expressed grave concern that rather than extending the demand by the congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunt. This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98.In light of this, the NEC of the NLC resolves as follows, it said. NLC said that it had decided to honour the police invitation as a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process. It however added that it would not sit idly while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders were trampled upon with impunity by the state. The NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimise the baseless allegations levelled against him
He recalled that prominent Ijaw leaders such as Chiefs Dappa-Biriye and MelfordOkilo had advocated aligning with the centre to drive development, given the region’s geographic isolation.
Ikuli said past alignment with the PDP, while it ruled nationally, enabled Bayelsa to produce both Vice President and President in Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
He lamented that the Ijaws are now sidelined from key federal positions such as the Presidency, Vice Presidency, and Service Chiefs, which has diminished their political influence.
“In spite of their population and contribution, Ijaws remain marginalised due to lack of alignment with the ruling party,” Ikuli added.
He argued that the Ijaws, who contribute over 65 percent of Nigeria’s oil wealth, have become powerless because they are not aligned with the Federal Government.
Ikuli explained Nigeria’s North-South power rotation system, stressing that the South must complete its eight-year turn under President Bola Tinubu’s current administration.
He noted that Tinubu is committed to strengthening the South and has appointed several Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions.
Ikuli appreciated Tinubu’s appointments, including Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as Oil Minister and Chief Samuel Ogbuku as NDDC Managing Director.
He also mentioned Chief EbitimiAmgbare as NDDBA Managing Director and PreyeAganaba as Executive Director at the South South Development Commission.
Ikuli thanked the President for approving the federal takeover of the Nembe-Brass Road Second Phase, a key project linking Bayelsa to the Atlantic Ocean.
He said this development shows Tinubu’s commitment to Bayelsa and urged the governor to show solidarity by joining Southern APC governors.
Ikuli further stated that aligning with the Federal Government is essential to actualize the Agge Seaport project, which would stimulate economic growth and secure prosperity for the state.
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