Governor Diri Vows Not To Use Violence To Keep Power

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has promised not to harm anyone to keep his job.

Diri is contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for reelection in the November 11 governorship election.

Speaking in Ogbolomabiri, a local area, he said he will work hard to bring peace to the community.

Earlier this month, police went into Bassambiri, a nearby area, to arrest troublemakers. Some people got hurt, and others had to leave their homes.

At a public meeting, Governor Diri said using lives for political gain is wrong. “Anyone who sacrifices the lives of the people in order to gain political power does not deserve to lead the state,” he said.

Diri is worried about the well-being of the displaced. He asked local leaders to unite the people. He said lack of peace slows down progress and told people to live in harmony.

He said: “I will not spill one life to retain my office because every life is important to me. Anyone who wants to be governor should not sacrifice any of you to become governor.

“Bassambiri issues are either political, chieftaincy or economic. Anybody who wants oil company benefits should not sacrifice others to get payment.

“You cannot kill yourselves whether you are from Bassambiri, Ogbolomabiri, Brass, or Odioma. You are all Nembe people. You are all Ijaw people. So, I call on the Nembe-Se Congress to do more in uniting the people of Nembe.

“As a government, we will continue to do what we are doing to unite the people and to develop the area. That is why your government started the very big Nembe-Brass road project, which is a federal government road.”

Diri directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to immediately provide more relief materials for the displaced people.

He added that his administration’s approach to the well-being of the people is to provide empowerment and skills acquisition and not to equip the youths with guns in order to kill.

He advised the police squad against any form of intimidation and discriminatory show of force in the community.

He also urged the team to restrict itself to protecting lives and maintaining law and order and not to delve into the politics of the area.

Diri equally asked the team to avoid issues bordering on chieftaincy and political squabbles in the community as well as cautioned against selective arrests.