Yenagoa—Mr. John Domkpee, a Special Assistant on media to Governor Douye Diri has backed his principal to retain his seat as Bayelsa State governor with ease in the forthcoming governorship election in November later this year.
This, he said, is because Chief Timipre Sylva who is the main opposition to Diri and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not stand a chance against his principal in the election.
Domkpee, in an exclusive interview with one of our reporters on Monday, maintained that the Bayelsa State APC has lost campaign ideas, stating that Bayelsans are well informed to know who is the better candidate between Governor Diri and the former minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
“The fact that Bayelsa APC members are asking eligible Bayelsans to vote for Chief Timipre Sylva in the November 11 election to align with the center shows the party doesn’t have tangible things to campaign with.
“Bayelsans are informed and wise enough to know that Sylva who could not attract significant projects to the state as minister of state in the all-important petroleum ministry cannot produce developmental magic in the future,” the aide said.
When asked if Bayelsans need to align with the central government, Domkpee averred that Governor Douye Diri is already performing “above par” and therefore does not need an APC governor in the state to align with the central government.
“The Miracle Governor is a peaceful man with impeccable character and good track records, so even as a PDP Governor he will have no issues with the Federal Government,” he said.
According to him, Sylva is only in the guber race “because of his failed presidential ambition as well as his phobia of being out of public office.”
He insisted that the former minister failed during his time as governor of the state as well as minister of state for petroleum resources and will fail again if elected as governor of the state, hence doesn’t stand a chance against Diri in the upcoming election.
Domkpee said, “The recent talk about the need for Bayelsa to align with the center is an unconvincing political advertising line that can’t sway the minds of contemporary Bayelsans who are satisfied with the superb performance of the Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
“We don’t need an APC governor for Bayelsa to align with the federal government when the PDP governor in the person of Governor Douye Diri has performed above par.
“It is public knowledge that Chief Timipre Sylva joined the governorship race because of his failed presidential ambition as well as his fear of being out of public office.
“Let me tell you this: Sylva knows he cannot win but is only deceiving gullible APC members who seem not to see how unpopular their candidate is.
“Since today, APC social media aides have been posting pictures he snapped with President Bola Tinubu and other dignitaries in Lagos, giving themselves false hope in an election they’ve already lost.
“While Bayelsa APC is banking on federal might, we are banking on the strength of the majority of Bayelsans who have resolved to stand with Governor Diri.
“Sylva does not stand a chance in the forthcoming governorship election. He did not do well as governor. He also did not do well as a minister. There is no way he can do well as governor again.”
Reacting to a question if Bayelsans are pleased with the governor, Domkpee said Diri has done “excellently well,” maintaining that Bayelsans will massively vote for his retention for another term in office.
The Bayelsa State governorship election is billed to hold 11th of November later this year.
Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is seeking a second term in office while his main opposition and candidate of the APC in the election, Chief Timipre Sylva who is a former governor of the state is seeking to be reelected into office once again as the governor.
