Diri’s ‘Prophetic’ Path To Creek Haven’ And New Expectations

In 2019 primary election and the build-up to the November 2019 election, the gubernatorial sharing equation in Bayelsa state was a complex matter among the three senatorial districts and political actors, especially in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

One major question was, which local government area in Bayelsa Central District whose turn it was, and which ethnic group would take the slot.

The other issue was who would fly the PDP’s ticket to win All Progressive Congress’s David Lyon, and consolidate on the development efforts of the then governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.

These issues put Dickson in a dilemma, especially as to, who in the then Restoration Administration would be able to wear his big shoes.
Dickson appeared obsessed with the choice of a worthy a successor from, among his loyalists in the team.

The former governor’s scheme to pick an heir apparent miffed some Bayelsans who felt that the state or the governorship seat was not his personal estate. Some observers also saw his moves as a plot to micro-manage the system, despite his having served eight years.

Pundits backed these contentions with the evidence that he had planted Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, his former works commissioner in the senate, as a placeholder in order to take over the seat after Ewhrudjakpo became deputy governor to Diri.
Truly, Dickson took over the senate seat via election.

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Dickson’s plots led to disagreements within his Restoration team, when he indicated interest in certain aspirants of the PDP, including Diri, albeit without clearly pointing to the person he wanted.

Most intriguing, was the former governor’s shrewdness of sponsoring some of the aspirants for the primary election, yet without openly endorse anyone initially.

The situation signaled fear that there might not be a fair contest in the primary election. Aspirants not favoured by him were visibly apprehensive that the then governor’s game plans would lead to their withdrawal from the race.

The Restoration team witnessed political earthquake, as some of the aspirants, bigwigs in the PDP and their supporters protested by decamping to the APC to support Chief Lyon, even as some remained, yet to work against Dickson and his favoured aspirant.

In the midst of the political skirmish and continuing dilemma of choosing a successor, Dickson on three occasions publicly prayed God to choose a successor for him. He said God makes leaders and gives to a people.

According to him, he had to pray for God’s guidance because the PDP needs to present a candidate that the electorate will also like to vote to power, for the party to retain power in the state.

The other reason he advanced for being perturbed about a successor, was that he needed an experienced, prudent, patriotic, focused, articulate and dynamic person to take over from him in February 14, 2020, when he would have left office.

He gave other reasons as the need for unity in the state, continuation of policies and programmes of the Restoration administration as well as execution of new ones, besides effectively mobilizing and projecting Bayelsa State and Izon to the national and international realms, to bolster development.

After three days fasting and prayers with his prayer group, Henry Seriake Dickson announced that God had revealed three persons to him – Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, his then chief of staff; Barr Kemela Okara, his then SSG and Senator Douye Diri, from which he (Dickson) would choose one person.

That person was Douye Diri who was his deputy chief of staff and later principal executive secretary.

He recommitted what seemed to be or a trance or ‘prophecy’ of the three-favoured, to prayers and later announced Diri.

The unveiling of the heir was rebuffed by some people who dismissed it as a political gimmick, and that God was not a confused being that would reveal three persons instead of one hence the Almighty Father should be left out of political scheming.

An undaunted Dickson insisted on his ‘revelation’ from God, and executed his mission, which further caused more cracks in the Restoration team and the PDP.

It also pitched some Bayelsans and the electorate against the candidature of Douye/Ewhrudjakpo in the 2019 gubernatorial election, which the duo initially lost to Chief David Lyon and his running mate, Chief (Sen.) D. W. Dege of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but not without litigations.

However, the unbelievable happened, as the duo of Diri and Ewhrudjakpo was sworn into office in February 14, 2020, as governor and deputy governor, respectively, following a Supreme Court judgement, amid fanfare.

Did the incident, which Diri like many others dubbed as miracle, reaffirm Dickson’s ‘prophecy’? Has Diri’s performance justified the ‘prophecy’ and his miraculous enthronement as governor, as the first tenure winds up on February 14, this year?

The performance of the incumbent governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri in the first tenure, brought a new paradigm to the development efforts of the state, amid the clamour for improvement in some sectors.

Familiar with the aspirations of the state, Senator Diri defied all odds, notably campaigns of calumny against his person/character, election battles, fierce opposition, floods and Covid-19, which affected activities, about half of the first tenure.

On his miraculous enthronement in February 2020, Diri though delayed a bit to take off earnestly, sprung surprises, first, by declaring peace, inclusive governance and non-politicization of development, as his policy thrusts. Symbolized by the Prosperity mantra, he enhanced the administration’s policy missions with his virtues of humility, passion, focus, disposition to peace and security, and warm acceptance of defectors, even from opposition parties.

Diri seemed not to forget how he miraculously became governor, thus his mission was to live up to the divine elevation.

To start with, he ensured relative peace and security by giving logistic support to conventional security agencies. He also set up a community safety corps, besides overhauling the Bayelsa volunteers and vigilantes outfits.

Mr. Etete Enideneze writes from Bayelsa State

Not taken too much by the euphoria of becoming governor miraculously when hopes had dimmed low or completely lost, Diri matched faith with action, in physical and human capital development in various sectors in the first tenure, as much as he could.

In reward, he and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo received massive endorsements and support from the people, including defectors from different parties, and PDP members who had angrily left the party.

The electorate also rewarded him and his deputy a second mandate in November 11, 2023, and requested for more dividends, to which Diri consistently reassured he would do more.

In the the first tenure, the Prosperity administration prioritized development of physical infrastructures, notably, road and bridge projects, and also focused on human capital development through education, skills and capacity building, financial support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs); games and sports; health, among others.

Mr. Etete Enideneze write ✍️ from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

The often-cited achievements of the Diri-led government, as well as the outcome of the November 11, 2023 governorship election, might put pay to Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s ‘prophecy’, and the reasons he advanced for backing Senator Douye Diri to succeed him.

The feats of the Diri/Ewhrudjakpo administration and their re-election also seem to affirm a divine hand in their political and leadership careers, and for the state even though some Bayelsans and staunch critics of the administration may feel otherwise.

Nevertheless, like Oliver Twist, many Bayelsans, supporters and non-supporters alike, want the government to do more in the second tenure.

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Among areas clamoured for are improvement of electricity supply; boosting of food production, farm produce marketing board; creation of industrial hubs and industries; new markets; provision of potable or pipe-borne water; continuation of the five-star hotel project; revamping of the state’s oil palm as well as plastic companies; rehabilitation of Peace Park and creation of more recreation centers as well as parks and gardens.

Others are housing; seaport; lasting flood and erosion control; dredging and beautification of Epie Creek; construction of effective drainage on roads/streets; drastic implementation of Yenagoa City development master plan; construction of bridges and more roads and streets in Yenagoa to link up the Igbogene-AIT-Elebele Road as well as Glory Drive; appointment competent and patriotic persons into public offices, etcetera.

Unequivocally, Governor Diri and his Deputy Ewhrudjakpo had before and after the November 11, 2023 governorship elections, reassured the people that the in the second term, the achievements would be consolidated, just as the administration would also roll out new projects.

In his post-election victory remarks too, Diri reiterated his resolve to do more within the ambit of resources, and recommitted himself to tackling some of the demands put forward by the people.

The second tenure, would therefore serve as Rubicon Test, as every concerned Bayelsans looks forward to a better deal from Senator Douye Diri.

Indeed, as he takes a second oath of office, today, February 14, Senator Diri has another four years to reaffirm the ‘prophetic’ and divine streak in his leadership career, by meeting the new expectations.

While the challenge of realizing the prosperity slogan is up to him, he needs more support from Bayelsans to actualize his missions, fully.

Etete Enideneze writes ✍️ from  Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.