The game of party politics is getting a new definition in Bayelsa State, courtesy of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the state governor, Senator Douye Diri. The duo are known and seen to be working together in the interest of the state, even though they belong to different political parties.
While Lokpobiri is of the APC, Diri belongs to the PDP. Unlike what used to be the practice in the state, the two leaders are said to be collaborating as they strive to right the leadership wrongs of the past.
After Lokpobiri’s appointment, he had visited Diri where he spoke of his decision to use his office to address issues that arose from the controversial oil well that belonged to the state government, which his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva could not handle.
Since then, the two leaders have been working as partners, in what critical stakeholders see as a move that will benefit the state. Both of them have visited each other at various times.
Last weekend, Ekeremor people honoured Lokpobiri, as they appreciated the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment. Diri found time to attend the reception at Ekeremor, even though the event took place on same day that Herbert Wigwe was being buried in Isiokpo, Rivers State. He attended the two events, despite the distance.
Diri who spoke at the reception defended the alliance between him and Lokpobiri, saying under the new Bayelsa, there was nothing like partisan politics, especially when the interest of the state was at stake.
A statement by Senator Diri’s spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as stating this on Saturday when he spoke at the grand reception in honour of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at the Ekeremor community pavilion in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
Others also honoured at the event were the state representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Denyanbofa Dimaro, a member of the board of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mrs Bekearedebo Warrens as well as a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kemasuode Wodu and Mr. Felix Okorotie, who were both conferred with the legal titles of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The Bayelsa governor stressed that the time for politicking was over and urged the people irrespective of political differences to rally round his administration to accelerate the pace of development.
Senator Diri, who expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing illustrious sons and a daughter of the state into various positions of trust in his administration, also appreciated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for his role in the appointment of Senator Lokpobiri as minister.
He said: “This is not the time for PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) or APC (All Progressives Congress). Politics is over. It is time for governance.
“We do not have party differences in Bayelsa but what we have is the development of our state and Nigeria at large. Let us jettison petty jealousies and join hands to develop our state so that it will grow from strength to strength.
“The persons appointed have what it takes to represent Bayelsa. Under Senator Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, we will see a different kind of representation. We need to partner with the NDDC and the Delta State government to build a bridge across both states.
“We need to also partner with the NDDC to take the Ekeremor road to Agge. We need this road infrastructure for easy movement of our people.”
The governor also assured that the construction work on the Nembe-Brass road in Bayelsa East senatorial district will continue and hinted that the Federal Government has indicated interest in the project.
“On behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, l thank President Bola Tinubu for making these appointments possible. Aside from God and the president, l also thank the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for contributing to the appointment of Senator Lokpobiri as minister.”
In his remarks, chairman of the occasion, a former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, also thanked President Tinubu for the appointment of sons and a daughter of Ekeremor.
Mr Seiyefa, who is also Pro Chancellor of the state-owned Niger Delta University, said it was heartwarming that Ekeremor alone produced two Senior Advocates of Nigeria that by dint of hardwork and perseverance attained the highest level in the legal profession.
In his solidarity message, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the gesture of honouring people that have excelled in various fields of endeavour serves as source of encouragement for others to work hard.
Ogbuku said the commission would collaborate with the government to ensure completion of the Ekeremor-Agge road project and on a regional bridge project linking Bayelsa and Delta states.
Responding on behalf of other honourees, Lokpobiri expressed appreciation to the leaders of Ekeremor as well as the state governor for the honour done them.
He said the idea of honouring him despite being an APC member was laudable, noting that what mattered most was the character of the candidate in an election rather than the party he represents.
Lokpobiri equally thanked Wike for being instrumental to his appointment and also expressed gratitude to the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and other prominent personalities for gracing the event.
