Diri behind arrest rumours to discredit NDDC boss, Ogbuku — Nabena alleges

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has accused Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, of orchestrating rumours about the arrest of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, in connection with an alleged coup plot.

Nabena claimed the false reports were part of a political strategy to smear Ogbuku’s image and destabilize the existing APC leadership in Bayelsa State, allegedly to pave the way for Diri’s planned defection to the party.

Recent media reports had suggested that the NDDC boss was arrested over a supposed coup plot.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Bayelsa-born APC stalwart alleged that Governor Diri, who is expected to officially join the APC on Monday, intends to weaken the current party structure before his defection.

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According to him, the governor’s move to the APC will not carry much political weight, as key figures in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are not following him — unlike similar defections recently witnessed in Delta and Enugu states.

He urged Nigerians to disregard the reports of Ogbuku’s alleged arrest.

Nabena said: “Let me put it on record that we are not saying the Governor should not join the APC, it is a democracy and he has right to join any party. The fact we will not take is for him to destroy some people and the existing leadership of the APC in Bayelsa state because he want to take full control of the party.

“We have traced the recent happenings in Bayelsa state to Governor Douye Diri’s camp, especially the arrest rumours of NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku (PhD).

“The plan is to destroy the existing organs and prominent members of the party before he (Governor Diri) formerly decamp to APC on Monday.

“But up till now we have not found answer to the question of what Governor Douye Diri is bringing to the APC. This is a Governor that his Deputy is not defecting with him, hence he is plotting to impeach the Deputy Governor.

“This is a Governor that even some State House of Assembly members have rejected. About 90 per cent of the serving National Assembly members, including Senator Dickson and other high profile lawmakers, are not on the same page with him.

“This is a Governor who is not in control of his local constituency not to talk of his entire Senatorial District. We ask Governor Douye Diri again to tell Nigerians who is running after him or what is he running after?”

Nabena added that many influential politicians within the Bayelsa PDP remain supportive of Ogbuku’s leadership and may align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the NDDC boss when the time is right.