Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has called on politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and make the campaigns for the 2027 general elections issue-based and respectful.
Diri spoke on Wednesday at the 195th meeting of the State Executive Council in Government House, Yenagoa, and at the Oxbow Lake Pavilion where a political support group, the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, flagged off President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid in the South-South zone.
The governor said the admonition had become imperative as political activities gradually build up ahead of next year’s polls.
He urged members of the movement to emulate President Tinubu, whom he described as a committed democrat, by being persuasive rather than combative in engaging those with opposing views.
According to him, democracy thrives on plurality of ideas and dissenting voices should not be regarded as enemies.
He said: “The purpose of our gathering today is to restate without equivocation our unflinching loyalty to the re-election of President Tinubu and to flag off the South-South zone of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement.
“While we hold the firm conviction that the South-South people and Nigerians will vote for Mr. President, we must not sit down. Politics is a game of numbers. Victory is not by accident.
“Even outside Nigeria, people move from door to door and that is why this movement is democratic. Democracy is about plurality of decisions. Do not make those who hold different opinions as enemies.”
Diri expressed optimism that the South-South and Nigerians will re-elect Tinubu, arguing that the President deserved a second term to consolidate the gains of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that Tinubu was laying a solid foundation for national development beyond his tenure and deserved the support of all Nigerians.
The Bayelsa governor recalled how the President guaranteed a free and fair contest during his own second term governorship election in November 2023 and last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, stressing that Tinubu’s democratic credentials were not in doubt.
He congratulated his Osun State counterpart, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election.
Diri also commended the grand patron of the movement, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for initiating the group and for his contributions to the zone.
He said: “Let me acknowledge my dear brother, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, who is giving back. He is our proud son and brother of this zone. I acknowledge his contributions to the re-election bid of Mr. President.
“I charge the leadership of the PBAT Movement to be inclusive and persuasive in your engagements. Let our campaigns be issue-based.”
Chairman of the event, Chief Lambert Ototo, said Tinubu had performed creditably and would do better if given a second mandate.
South-South Coordinator of the movement, Pastor Reuben Wilson, thanked zonal and state coordinators for the success of the flag-off, saying the group was floated by Ekpemupolo to galvanise support for Tinubu on account of his love for the region as demonstrated in appointments and projects.
Speaking on behalf of state coordinators, Bayelsa Coordinator, Daniel Charles, said the zone was united for Tinubu’s re-election.
Similarly, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Warman Ogoriba, said the South-South was known for speaking with one voice and pledged that the President would record an unprecedented number of votes from the region.
Ogoriba charged coordinators and members of the movement not to rest on their oars but to work assiduously until Tinubu is re-elected.
