|By Adejumo Adekunle-
-Group urges realignment with Federal Government to secure state’s development
-Warns PDP dominance poses electoral risks ahead of 2027 polls
A political pressure group, the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF), has urged Governor Douye Diri to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bold move to realign the state with the Federal Government.
Speaking at a press briefing in Yenagoa on Tuesday, CBSF Convener and Governor Diri’s Technical Adviser on Print Media, Mr. Wisdom Ikuli, said the call was driven by the urgent need to reposition Bayelsa for political relevance and federal support. He argued that the state, being the only PDP-controlled territory in the South-South, stands isolated and vulnerable under the current political configuration.
Ikuli said CBSF comprises members from various political backgrounds, including non-indigenes, and is focused solely on Bayelsa’s future. He warned that the PDP’s internal wrangling and looming legal disputes could jeopardize its 2027 electoral fortunes, paving the way for disqualification of its candidates.
According to him, “the dominance of the PDP in Bayelsa is now in the hands of a few individuals whose grip could endanger the party’s chances. The time to act is now, and Governor Diri must lead the state into a strategic alignment with the ruling APC.”
He disclosed that CBSF will begin daily street rallies in Yenagoa to compel the governor to consider the defection. “This is non-negotiable and imperative. It is in Bayelsa’s best interest,” he said.
Ikuli also invoked the legacies of prominent Ijaw leaders like Chiefs Dappa-Biriye and Melford Okilo, who advocated aligning with the central government to attract development to the geographically isolated Niger Delta region. He recalled how alignment with the then-ruling PDP enabled Bayelsa to produce a Vice President and President in Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Regretting the current marginalization of the Ijaw ethnic group, Ikuli said they remain excluded from key federal positions, including the presidency, vice presidency, and service chief roles, despite contributing over 65 percent of Nigeria’s oil wealth.
“Today, the Ijaw people are politically powerless because they are not aligned with the Federal Government,” Ikuli said.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s North-South power rotation, insisting the South must complete its eight-year cycle under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He praised Tinubu’s inclusive governance, citing the appointments of several Ijaw leaders:
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Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources
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Chief Samuel Ogbuku as NDDC Managing Director
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Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as NDDBA Managing Director
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Preye Aganaba as Executive Director, South South Development Commission
Ikuli also commended President Tinubu for approving the federal takeover of the Nembe-Brass Road Second Phase, describing it as a vital lifeline linking Bayelsa to the Atlantic Ocean. He said the project underscores the president’s commitment to the state’s transformation.
He stressed that Governor Diri’s defection would secure further development, particularly the realization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, which holds potential for industrial expansion, job creation, and long-term prosperity.
Ikuli concluded by urging Governor Diri to “take a stand for the future of Bayelsa” and join hands with other Southern APC governors for a unified front that guarantees economic leverage and political relevance.
