Douye Diri: The Time Is Now To Switch

By Joseph Ambakederimo
Politics they say is to enhance ones interest and well-being. If this assumption is a anything to go by then l will urge Governor Douye Diri to switch from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
There is no pathway forward for the Ijaw people in the People’s Democratic Party or the coalition party ADC. Continually staying in the PDP at this time is misapplication of reality. Bayelsa and Bayelsans cannot be left out of national politics anymore, we have to integrate ourselves into a place that will attract development.
Bayelsa needs the pace of development like the speed of light, accelerated development which can only be achieved only when we align with the centre. Our people has to be made aware that before you benefit substantially and your interest protected in politics you must have a seat or represented at the table where the decisions are taking, anything less is a fluke.
Our Governor is a man who is extremely passionate when it comes to infrastructural and human capital development. Governor Douye Diri has never played politics devoid of development, therefore the alignment with the centre would be for purposes of integrating the state ,the only homogeneous Ijaw state with the Progressives.
The Fourth largest ethnic group (Ijaws) must be at the table where major governance decisions are made. We have allowed others to decide our well-being for too long even when the Nigerian economy is energized from resources derived from our backs .
The Governor should not see his switching parties as convenient personal decision, be would be doing the Bayelsa people a greater good by opening up the economic space for our people to thrive.
“This is not a time for cautious step but for courageous leaps ” , therefore I urge you to make the switch. The Ijaw people have been lagging behind for too long, we have been in the cold for too long we need to galvanize our people for greater economic renaissance, your switch will expand the economic opportunities for our people. There will be opportunity for placement for appointments for our people at the federal level rather than this constricted environment where no one can aspire more than becoming a commissioner or Personal Assistance. We need to play this game in order for our to feel the pulse of the Federal government until such a time when the Nigerian state will imbibe a true fiscal federalist system of government either by constitutional amendment or a Presidential fiat.
Our political forebear like Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, Chief Medford Okilo, Chief Amachree and a host of others came to prominence when they aligned with the then party at the center.
Come to the NPN era the Ijaws aligned with the ruling party and so it has been. Therefore my call on the Governor can’t be misplaced, the well-being of our people is at the core of the matter and should be the overriding motivating factor.

Joseph Ambakederimo, foremost Ijaw Leader and Elder Statesman.

This article was first published in gwg.ng