0
0
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said he will not compel his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with him.
Governor Diri made the statement during a State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, where the deputy governor was also in attendance.
The governor, who officially joined the APC on November 3 after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, said he prefers dialogue and persuasion over confrontation in handling political differences.
He acknowledged the difficulty of leading a government where the governor and deputy belong to different political parties but noted that ongoing engagements between them were yielding encouraging results.
Diri further revealed that the court case earlier filed by Ewhrudjakpo at the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop a purported impeachment move had been withdrawn following their reconciliatory discussions.
Addressing speculation surrounding his defection, the governor said he would rather appeal to his deputy and other political associates to see reasons for his decision, rather than use his office to impose it on anyone.
“It is not my style to force anyone to take a political decision. Leadership is about conviction and persuasion. While it may not be convenient for the governor and deputy to stand on opposing sides, we will continue to dialogue and may eventually converge under the same platform,” he stated.
Governor Diri urged the people of Bayelsa to remain peaceful and united, emphasizing that politics should serve as a tool for development and not division.
“We are brothers before politics and will remain so after it. The era of violence is over in Bayelsa. Our politics must focus on growth, peace, and progress,” he added.
The governor’s defection to the APC has continued to generate political discussions in the state, particularly regarding the alignment of his deputy and members of his cabinet.
Average Rating