Senator Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, has stated that he will not compel his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join the All Progressives Congress.
Diri was formally admitted to the APC on November 3, after quitting the Peoples Democratic Party on October 15.
His deputy had already sought a court injunction to stop the state House of Assembly from impeaching him for refusing to join the APC.
Diri, speaking to the State Executive Council at the Government House in Yenagoa on Wednesday, stated that he believes in interaction rather than confrontation as a matter of principle.
He stated that, while it is difficult for them to belong to different political parties, ongoing discussions with his deputy are producing positive results.
Diri revealed that the case filed by Ewhrudjakpo in the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt an alleged impeachment plan had been dropped following their discussions.
He asked the people of the state to embrace unity and see politics as a vehicle to promote progress rather than sow division.
He said, “Let me address an issue that has been a subject of speculation in the media. I do not intend to force people to join the APC but rather to appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have the power today, but not tomorrow.
“It is actually difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another. But we will continue to talk, and we might end up at the same party tomorrow.
“We must not heat up the polity. We are done with violence in Bayelsa State. We are brothers, and we are one. Politics should be for the development of the state and not to fight one another.”
Diri dismissed reports of armed men arriving in Bayelsa as fake news but assured residents that security agencies are on alert to address any threats.
He urged residents to report security issues to relevant authorities rather than spreading falsehoods on social media.
During the meeting, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, state Commissioner for Health, presented Dir.
Dr. Daniel Igali, Commissioner for Sports, also received a “Distinguished Governor Award for Outstanding Support to SWAN and Contribution to Sports Development in Nigeria” from the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.
