…Barr. Ayebakuro Igbeta, Says, Diri’s recent trip to Morocco, of utmost necessity, needs more mental stabilization & stress management over the shocking demise of his trusted ally.
Barr. Ayebakuro Igbeta PhD a former Legal Adviser of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and popular Public affairs commentator has lashed out hard on those pouring out negative criticisms on the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Sen. Douye Diri for his recent trip to Morocco.
Critics of Douye Diri has come down hard on ground that the Bayelsa State Chief Executive had joined other eminent persons and leaders including the FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the North African Country for the finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations. A strong ground for their criticism is that the Governor should not leave the state especially now that he is yet to nominate a successor to his late deputy governor thereby leaving the state in leadership void.
Reacting, the former IYC Legal officer known for his commentary on State and national issues, lashed hard on those he described as enemies of Bayelsa and lacking in empathy.
Igbeta in a brief discuss with newmen encouraged the governor to engage in more recreational, social and sporting activities for the sake of his own metal health, because since the demise of his trusted friend, ally and dutiful deputy, Diri has done nothing but mourned and grieved thereby putting the state at an even greater risk. A Governor needs (according to Igbeta) a clear and sound mind to focus on the question of leadership and state building, but if Diri fails to recover from this disaster, he may as well put himself in medical jeopardy and one way to recover quickly is to engage in such high end recreational social events to ease the tension and permutate important subject with a clear mind, one of such opportunity is as provided by the AFCON finals.
“Those that are close to the Governor reveal that even during the festives season, Governor Diri refused to celebrate or engage in his usual end of year merriments as a mark of honor to his departed friend. What else do Bayelsans want? I for instance understand the close bond of friendship that existed between Diri and my late boss, and I can say with certainty that even though the entire state mourns, the worst affected by Lawrence sudden death are his immediate family, former Governor Dickson and Governor Douye Diri himself. It is therefore insensitive of anyone to criticize Diri for taking time to recover from the loss” Igbeta is quoted in part.
Speaking further, Barr. Ayebakuro Igbeta PhD frowned at the calls for urgent nomination of a successor to the office of the Deputy Governor, he described as selfish and hasty the nocturnal activities of those covetting the office. Igbeta argued that since it is the wisdom of the Governor to hold on with the nomination till after the final burial of his late deputy, people should stop making political calls and mounting pressure on the governor untill he is ready for that discussion.
“It is my personal opinion that Diri should be at complete liberty to choose who he wants to complete the tenure with, that should not be a subject of political negotiations or pressure. The entire state is aware the huge shoes left behind and the high standards now expected from a Deputy Governor nominee in Bayelsa state, thus some of these people jumping from place to place and lobbying at every street corner ordinarily should not even be in contemplation, but in this part of the world everything is politics, even so we pray God Almighty to direct the wisdom of the Governor to choose right” Igbeta concluded
