Stern Looking Diri Displays Anger, Talks Tough

Stern Looking Diri Displays Anger, Talks Tough

… Declares Bayelsa Not At War As Politics Hots Up

By PHC Telegraph

Governor Douye Diri, moves against trouble makers as he prepares to battle Timi Sylva.

Just as ordinary Bayelsans were busy chewing on the news of Timipre Sylva’s victory in the APC governorship primaries and what its implication could be as they approach the next election cycle, an ugly event involving the death of a citizen, which turned ordinary Bayelsans livid with rage, occurred.

Sylva had defeated David Lyon and others to clinch the APC gubernatorial ticket through a process that his opponents claimed was not transparent.
‏
But the murder of a Bayelsa indigene suddenly occupied the front burner, shifting attention momentarily away from the political turf and the fury that was gradually building within the ranks of the APC.

While some people were furious over what they considered the needless murder of an innocent, others who are beginning to think non indigenes are crossing the red line suddenly started spreading dangerous sentiments.

Most services provided outside the government sub sector by the private sector such as trading and commerce as well as the transportation are not dominated by Bayelsans.

There are those who reckon that the pulse of the State’s economy is determined largely by the influence of the non indigent community.

Some Bayelsans who may be uninterested in the dynamics of the marketplace and the impact it has on price fixation, suspect settlers in their midst are becoming unduly exploitative and provocative in the way they conduct themselves.

Last week the nation was shocked to the bone by the news that murder had been crudely committed in broad daylight on the street because of what many here see as a mere disagreement over transport fare.

The Bayelsa State Government quickly stepped into the ring to stem what could have resulted in a wave of disturbances and a threat to public security.

There were however angry reactions as reports  of the incident spread through the State capital even before damage control measures by the Bayelsa State Government took effect.

The killing of a man who could only afford N100 instead of the N150 demanded by a keke driver in the State capital led to the burning of some  tricycles.

The Bayelsa State Government, we have it on good authority, had harped on solid information which indicated that a reprisal attack targeted at some of the non indigenes was being planned.

The plan was to attack non indigenes especially the Hausa living in the oil rich State because of the senseless  murder of an Ijaw.

Despite burning tricycles used for commercial transportation, tension was largely mounting as some persons, including relatives of the deseased,  swore revenge.

Acting swiftly, the government urged restraint and ordered security agencies to deal with anyone found parading with offensive weapons.

Spearheading the move to douse tension, Governor Douye Diri sternly warned that the State Government would not stand aloof and allow the situation to degenerate.

He said Bayelsans were not at war with the Hausa or other non indigenes for that matter.

The Governor acknowledged that non indigenes have played critical roles in the progress and development of the State even as he expressed disgust that a mere disagreement over N150 could have led to the death of someone.

Many in the State are still shocked that a man could be killed in their midst because he could not afford to pay N150 for a ride in a tricycle that took him that fateful day to the grave.

Somehow, damage control mechanisms put in place by the government are reportedly yielding results. Tension has lowered considerably. People are going about their normal business.

A Bayelsan who spoke to this medium observed, “Our people are poor. They are not gainfully engaged. Life is tough for most of us and this is what the unfortunate incident on the street points to.

“Next door in Rivers State, no matter what you say about Governor Nyesom Wike, the man has performed. We come to Port Harcourt. We can see what he has done with Rivers money. This is not the case in Bayelsa.”

Preparing for war in the creeks:

Diri may already be preparing for a titanic battle against Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Sylva said after he emerged as the winner of the primaries which Lyon and others dispute that he had become more experienced than he was years ago when he served as governor for only one term.

Sylva was 42 years when he occupied Creek Haven. He was chased out of office by ex – President Goodluck Jonathan, with the support of Bayelsans.

Seriake Dickson, a member of the House of Representatives was drafted in as governor after Sylva was sent packing.

But reports indicate that even before he left office he had fallen out with former President Goodluck Jonathan.

It would be the second time since leaving office that Sylva would attempt to reclaim power. The first after he joined the APC did not succeed.

Where he lost, Lyon won in 2019, but he was kicked out by the Supreme Court on the ground that his deputy was engaged in acts of forgery.

Sylva’s opponents allege that the former Minister of State may have deliberately chosen a deputy with a tainted record so Lyon could be edged out in order to pave way for him to fulfill his ambition to govern Bayelsa State again.

Meanwhile, Lyon is overtly angry and he is showing it. With the Labour Party perceived as weak, there may be some leaders who might urge Lyon to try APGA.

Surprisingly, APGA is believed to have entered the league of emerging political parties that fot the landscape of Bayelsa State.

No doubt, the election to come would be a public referendum on the performance of Diri who is moving to employ more civil servants in the State as part of a job creation strategy.

Bayelsans who would make the ultimate decision when the time comes are waiting to see what the season of campaigns would be like.

Perhaps, “stomach infrastructure” more than anything else would determine the outcome of the fight between Sylva and Diri.

Should Lyon contest in the forthcoming election his presence will hurt Timipre Sylva more because it would lead to the division of votes meant for the APC.

Diri’s strategists would very much want such a three-way horse race to unfold in the weeks to come.