By Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
Ahead of the Saturday governoship election in Bayelsa State, the leadership of the Labour Party says it has endorsed the re-election bid of the incumbent, Gov. Douye Diri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and his running mate, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Executive members of the Labour Party, made this known in a press conference held in Yenagoa on Thursday, via a statement signed by it’s Financial Secretary, Chief Anthony Oboghor, and the Organizing Secretary, Chief Tovie Pelesai, for and unbehalf of State Executives of the Labour Party in Bayelsa.
The statement read, “We, the Labour Party Bayelsa State Exco, have carefully deliberated on the progress and events surrounding the governorship race.”
“After much consideration, we have come to a resolution that we can no longer continue to pledge our loyalty and services to an individual who not only accuses us at will, but also disrespects the entire structure of our party at every opportunity.
“Therefore, we have decided to extend our support to H. E Douye Diri, the Executive governor of Bayelsa State, due to his commendable efforts in infrastructure development, road construction, and ensuring security within our state.
“We sincerely encourage him to carry on with his good work for another four years. We sincerely apologize to our amiable state Chairman Hon, Eneyi Zidougha for taking him unaware on this decision. We have to do what we have to do for the betterment of our party in the State,” the statement reads.
In a related development, the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, Bayelsa chapter, also endorsed the Bayelsa governor, and his Deputy, saying their track records in the past four years have shown that if reelected, will take the state to another level.
The hostcom made the declaration during a press conference and also in a statement signed by it’s Chairman, PST. Samson Dabbey, and it’s Vice Chairman, Pst. Hardy Theophilus.
According to the statement, “We the unified and harmonized body of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas Bayelsa State Chapter having collapsed both Executives, duly reasoned and mutually concluded that, Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, totally throw our support for the re-election of His Excellency Sen. Douye Diri for his 2nd term bid.
“We have also resolved to liaise and negotiate with the Government of Bayelsa State on any needed further grassroots developmental programmes and projects after the gubernatorial election.
“Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas Bayelsa State Chapter are therefore determined to encourage our members to go to their polling units to cast and protect their votes en bloc to His Excellency, Douye Diri in the forth coming governorship election.
“We call on all and sundry of our teeming members and the general public to conduct themselves peaceably with high degree of decorum before, during and after the election,” the statement reads.
Speaking at the event, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Collins Cocodia, lauded the group for uniting themselves, as it’s only in unity that they can achieve greater things, while also commending them for choosing the right path of throwing their weight behind the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Douye Diri.
Cocodia, stressed that Bayelsa will be greater and will see more dividends of good governance with the governor on the saddle, urging the hostcom, to ensure their members vote for the governor on Saturday.