I won’t pressure my deputy to join APC – Gov Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has stated that he will not compel his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Diri made the remark following his recent defection to the ruling party. He officially joined the APC on November 3, after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15.

The Bayelsa leader emphasized that political alignment should be a matter of personal conviction rather than coercion, adding that he respects his deputy’s right to make independent political choices.

It will be recalled that Deputy Governor Ewhrudjakpo had earlier sought a court injunction to stop the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from impeaching him over his refusal to defect to the APC alongside the governor.

Speaking to 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.

According to him, while it is challenging for them to belong to different political parties, ongoing discussions with his deputy are yielding positive results.

The governor revealed 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 called on the people of the state to embrace unity and see politics as a means to promote development rather than sow division.

“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,” he said.