Gov Diri Urges Issue-Based Campaigns, Respect For Political Opponents
......Flags Off Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Campaign In South-South, Congratulates Adeleke
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on politicians and political groups to ensure that campaigns for the 2027 general elections are issue-based, peaceful and respectful of opposing views.
Diri made the call on Wednesday while speaking during the 195th State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, and at the South-South flag-off of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2027 re-election campaign by the PBAT Door to Door Movement at the Oxbow Lake Pavilion.
The governor urged members of the movement to emulate President Tinubu’s democratic disposition by being persuasive rather than combative in their engagements with Nigerians who hold divergent political views.
He stressed that democracy thrives on plurality of opinions and urged political actors not to regard opponents as enemies.
“The purpose of our gathering today is to restate without equivocation our unflinching loyalty to the re-election of President Tinubu and to flag off the South-South zone of the PBAT Door to Door Movement,” Diri said.
He noted that politics was a game of numbers and that victory could not be achieved by chance, urging members of the movement to take their campaign to the grassroots and engage voters directly.
“Do not make those who hold different opinions as enemies. Wherever you go and people disagree with you, try to convince them. Do not see them as enemies,” he said.
Diri expressed optimism that the South-South geopolitical zone and Nigerians would support Tinubu’s re-election, saying the region remained critical to the development of the country.
He also urged the leadership of the PBAT movement to make its engagements inclusive and persuasive, stressing that campaigns should focus on issues and the achievements of the administration.
“Our message to the South-South and the country is to give Mr. President a second term to consolidate on his achievements. The South-South zone is critical in Project Nigeria,” he said.
The governor commended the grand patron of the movement, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for his support for the President’s re-election bid and contributions to the region.
Diri also described Tinubu as a democrat, citing what he said was the President’s commitment to democratic processes during the 2023 Bayelsa governorship election and the recently concluded governorship election in Osun State.
He congratulated his Osun State counterpart, Governor Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the election.
The chairman of the occasion, Chief Lambert Ototo, said Tinubu had performed well in office and would do better if re-elected for a second term.
In his remarks, the South-South Coordinator of the PBAT Door to Door Movement, Pastor Reuben Wilson, appreciated the state coordinators and other stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the event.
Wilson said the movement was established by Ekpemupolo to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the President deserved the backing of the South-South region because of his administration’s appointments and projects in the zone.
Speaking on behalf of the state coordinators, the Bayelsa State Coordinator, Hon. Daniel Charles, said the South-South was united in support of Tinubu’s re-election.
The Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Warman Ogoriba, said the South-South was known for taking collective positions on issues of importance.
Ogoriba pledged that the President would secure an unprecedented number of votes from the region in the 2027 election, while urging members and coordinators of the movement to intensify their grassroots mobilisation efforts until Tinubu is re-elected.
