The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has said he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) based on his personal conviction at the time.
On Monday, while speaking in a live radio program aired by multiple radio stations in Yenagoa, Sen. Seriake Dickson had said there was no justifiable reason to back the defection of Gov. Diri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
However, speaking on Monday night at the January edition of the monthly praise night at the Government House, Yenagoa, the governor stated that politics was dynamic and politicians should learn to accept change in the overall interest of the people they serve.
Gov. Diri’s assertions were contained in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, who quoted the governor as saying: “There is no static nature in politics because we have alignments and re-alignments. The development and progress of our state is the reason we are in politics.
“I do not just take decisions, I consult, I pray, and my spirit tells me where I should go.
“Most of you know my political trajectory. I have moved from one party to another. I have moved from the National Solidarity Movement, and when the party was dying, we moved to the PDP and then to the Labour Party.
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“In the Labour Party, we realised that we had met a brick wall, and that was when I was invited to join the PDP again. Assuming I did not move, maybe I would not have become governor today.
“So, in politics, movement is allowed. Changing camps is allowed, but do it out of conviction. Do not be a slave to anyone. Your destiny and the next person’s destiny are not the same.
“If you are convinced and still following that person, please go ahead. But there is no static nature in politics.
“In political science, we have alignments and realignments. The reason we are in politics is for the development and progress of our state.”
The governor said his administration was working hard to consolidate development efforts in order for the state to rise above prevailing challenges in all ramifications.
