By Julius Osahon, Yenagoa
Ahead of November 22 governorship election in Bayelsa State, hundreds of youths across the eight councils of the state, yesterday, staged a solidarity walk to declare support for Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The solidarity walk, tagged: ‘One Million Man Solidarity March for Governor Douye Diri,’ was organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths across the state, while some party chieftains, including the senator-elect for Bayelsa East, Benson Agadaga, and former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Robinson Obuebite, and many other chieftains of the party took part in the 15-kilometre roadshow.
In what was acclaimed one of the largest political rallies in the state in recent times, the walk started from the popular Tombia roundabout and ended at the Peace Park, opposite the Government House, Yenagoa, where they were received by the governor, his deputy, Political Adviser to Governor, Collins Cocodia, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, and other PDP leaders.
Also received by the governor and party leaders were over 300 defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other opposition parties in the state.
Most of the youths and party chieftains, who spoke at the rally, including student bodies, said the walk was to let the opposition party know that there is no vacancy at Creek Haven, and vow to vote Diri and his deputy for second term.
Addressing the youths, party faithful and the defectors, Diri said he was overwhelmed and felt ambushed by the show of solidarity towards him and his government.
He urged them to continue to ensure peace in the state, saying his administration had a covenant with youths and the people of the state in terms of empowerment, capacity building, infrastructure development, among others.
Diri urged them to beware of politicians of the other divide, who just want to grab power by all means without their interest at heart.
Meanwhile, Diri, yesterday, also swore in three new commissioners of the state Judicial Service Commission.
They are Fedude Zimughan, Ine Dokubo-Spiff and Makbere Jacob.
During the swearing-in inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Yenagoa, the governor described their appointment as an important constitutional duty that will lead to the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the state.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that their appointment was based on merit, and in accordance with provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
Diri charged them to help the judiciary work closely with other arms of government, saying all arms of government need the others to succeed.
Source: The Guardian
