3rd January, 2024
By Shedrack Frank
Bayelsa governor Douye Diri has hailed former President Goodluck Jonathan for supporting his reelection in the November 11 government election in the state.
Diri, who was the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the election, defeated former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva who contested on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC to earn his second term in the election.
Jonathan had endorsed the reelection of Diri to the discomfiture of the other candidates just before the election.
Speaking when he led a high-powered delegation to the residence of the former President in Yenagoa on Tuesday, Diri said his endorsement was crucial for his victory at the polls.
Diri expressed appreciation to the former president for his support, which contributed to the success of the Peoples Democratic Party at the poll.
“Your endorsement of a sitting governor was more than billions of naira. And so having secured that endorsement, we were very sure of victory. We are here to say a big thank you as that has brought stability in the state.
“With the kind of peace and security we have in our state, Bayelsa is ready for private investors to come in,” the governor added.
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for ensuring a peaceful, free and credible election in the state.
Also speaking at the event, the former president who received Diri in the company of Dame Patience Jonathan, his wife, affirmed that he owes no apology to anybody for supporting the re-election of Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa in the November 11, governorship poll.
Jonathan explained that he decided to support the reelection of Diri as governor of Bayelsa for a second term of office in line with the wishes of the majority of the people of the state.
The former President added that he saw that the governor and his team had a vision and he needed to be encouraged to do another four-year term.
Jonathan added that Diri deserved to be re-elected because of his developmental efforts, including ensuring peace and stability in the state.
“I did what l did during the governorship election and l have no apologies to anybody because l know that the governor and his team were doing very well, especially in the area of peace and stability of the state.
”At a time, l became very worried. I have not said others did not do well. After all, l was also a governor for a little less than one and a half years and also had my challenges.
“Since Diri came on board, the excesses of cult groups, particularly in Yenagoa, have reduced reasonably. If we must move forward, first and foremost, we must handle the issue of security to attract investors.
“I saw that the governor and his team have a vision and he needed to be encouraged to do another four-year term,” he said.
Jonathan charged the governor to do more to meet the high expectations of the people, adding that “to whom much is given, much is expected”.
The governor was accompanied by Senators and House of Representatives members from the state, former lawmakers, traditional rulers, political appointees and public servants.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
FS/MZA