Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has urged political actors in the state to prioritize unity and reject divisive tactics as election season approaches. Speaking during the State Executive Council meeting, he emphasized that cultural identity and communal bonds should outweigh political differences, noting that Bayelsa's shared ancestry, geography, and social ties must not be undermined. Diri cautioned against inflammatory language and personal attacks, warning that reckless rhetoric could spark unrest in a politically sensitive environment.
He also criticized the focus on pipeline surveillance contracts in public debates, arguing that deeper issues like resource ownership and economic development deserve greater attention. Drawing from national discussions on oil assets and resource control, Diri urged stakeholders to shift focus toward policies that benefit the Niger Delta's long-term future. "Political parties will come and go, but we remain one people," he said, stressing the need for respectful, issue-based political engagement.
Diri's warning lands with little weight when his own party's members openly clash over contracts and influence. The real test isn't his speech—it's whether Bayelsa's political class can move beyond performative unity to actually share power and resources. Until then, his calls for restraint will keep sounding like background noise in a state where self-interest trumps communal progress.
