Yenagoa—The Senior Special Assistant on new media to the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Paul Clement Ovokeroye has chided the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for “trying to pit Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo against each other.”
He said Senator Ewhrudjakpo is Governor Diri’s spare tyre, and as such he said it is mischievous for anyone to stir up what he termed a disdainful comparison to cause friction between the governor and his deputy.
Ovekeroye was reacting to a press statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Sagbama Chapter of the State’s All Progressives Congress (APC), Preye Bagou on Monday who said “Ewhrudjakpo is better in governance than Diri.”
In a statement sent to Mangrovepen.ng, the deputy governor’s aide stressed that Ewhrudjakpo as a spare tyre to Diri can only function effectively with the governor in charge who according to him, is the engine and brain box of the prosperity vehicle.
He described Diri as a team player that desires the prosperity of Bayelsa State and added that as governor he has since put in place policies to make the state better and function effectively.
He described members of the Bayelsa APC as mischief makers who he said are being threatened by the cordial relationship that exists between Diri and his deputy.
According to him, over seven years of the APC reign at the federal level has translated to nothing in Bayelsa state and pointed to Buhari’s failure to visit the state during this year’s flooding disaster as veritable proof.
Overokoye lauded Diri and maintained that the governor is passionate about the development of the state.
The deputy governor’s aide added that Diri’s passion for Bayelsa can be seen in some of the administration’s policies and projects like prompt payment of salaries, the ongoing three senatorial roads link communities, agro-training, and skill acquisition programmes among others.
The statement partly reads: “It’s interesting to note that the Deputy Governor is functioning effectively. It shows that Governor Diri is a team player who understands how significant it is to put every part of his body to work.
“The Deputy Governor is a spare part of the Governor. If he is functioning, it simply means that the Governor’s complex system is working.
“And in a saner society, an association such as a political party like the All Progressive Congress (APC) will appreciate Senator Douye Diri for making a wise choice in the person of Senator Ewhrudjakpo as his running mate against all odds during the last gubernatorial election.
“The APC in Bayelsa State is obviously being threatened by the cordial relationship that exists between Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
“APC mischief makers should better channel their energy to meaningful ventures that will improve the welfare of her members in the state, as it will be easier for the head of a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to set Governor Diri and his Deputy apart.
“Bayelsa State is presently under water, and a responsible party that cares about the welfare of the people will provide succour to alleviate the people’s suffering.
“We have witnessed how well-meaning Nigerians visit the state to identify with the people and government of Bayelsa State. Unfortunately, Bayelsa APC is not worried that President Buhari, a senior official of the Federal Government has not shown up to empathise with the people.
“I think the comparison should be between the Federal Government and the Bayelsa State Government in terms of what they are doing to cushion the effects of the 2022 flood on the people of Bayelsa State.
“The Governor, like his predecessors is doing his best to advance the fronts of development in the State.
“He has proven to Bayelsans that they were only being deceived and hoodwinked by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last elections, and many are coming to appreciate God for averting the doom and excruciating pains they would have unleashed on Bayelsa State and her people should they have occupied Creek Haven.
“The Buhari led Federal Government is approximately 8yrs with no presence of Federal Government in Bayelsa State. That should be the problem of APC chieftains in the state.
“The Governor has expressed his passion and political will to develop Bayelsa State without sentiments.
“His administration is connecting communities across the state to the state capital through the ongoing three senatorial roads. More roads are being constructed within and outside the state capital.
“The prompt payment of salary to civil servants among other human capital development like the DEEP, the Diri Skills Acquisition, Agro- training to mention but a few in the state are a clear demonstration of the Governor’s will to make life meaningful for Bayelsans, and the people will not hesitate to re-elect him and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo to continue their service to the people of Bayelsa State come 2023.”
