Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said he will not compel his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join him in the All Progressives Congress.
Diri was formally received into the APC on November 3, after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party on October 15.
His deputy had previously sought a court injunction to prevent the state House of Assembly from impeaching him over his refusal to join the APC.
Addressing the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, with Ewhrudjakpo present, Diri said he believes in engagement rather than confrontation as a matter of principle.
He noted that while it is challenging for them to belong to different political parties, ongoing discussions with his deputy are yielding positive results.
Diri disclosed that the case filed by Ewhrudjakpo at the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt a purported impeachment plan had been discontinued following their discussions.
He urged the people of the state to embrace unity and see politics as a means to promote development rather than sow division.
He said, “Let me address an issue that has been a subject of speculation in the media. I do not intend to force people to join the APC but rather to appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have the power today, but not tomorrow.
“It is actually difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another. But we will continue to talk, and we might end up at the same party tomorrow.
“We must not heat up the polity. We are done with violence in Bayelsa State. We are brothers and we are one. Politics should be for the development of the state and not to fight one another.”
On reports of armed men allegedly arriving in the state, Diri dismissed the rumours as fake news, but assured all that security agencies have been put on the alert to address any threats.
He reaffirmed Bayelsa as one of the most secure states in the country and urged residents to report security issues to relevant authorities rather than spreading falsehoods on social media.
During the meeting, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, presented Diri with recognition of Bayelsa as the “Best State in Health Insurance Service Delivery” by the Nigeria Governors Forum.
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