–Reply to Asu Beks’s publication titled “Douye Diri: The Burden of a Reluctant Defector”
My attention was drawn to this piece dated 12th July, 2025 with the above caption. While the title speaks volume about the desperate and frustrated disposition of the author, I still decided to respond in order to save gullible members of the public the pains of deciphering the intent and purpose of the endless attack on the person of the governor by one of the highest beneficiaries of his benevolence and goodwill.
Before proceeding further, it is pertinent to note that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the 1999 Nigerian Constitution As Amended Sections 33-41, guarantees all Nigerians inalienable fundamental rights and freedom of association, assembly, movement and others.
Senator Douye Diri as an adult citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has right to take decisions and also make choices as he deems necessary.
I am therefore, surprised that one fellow tried to paint or make political defection look like a taboo or something that is impossible with a denigrating and derogatory screaming caption of a reluctant defector. It is further disheartening that he dissipated his intellectual resource to write all manner of things that are figment of his myopic imagination.
It is important to state for the umpteenth time that Gov. Douye Diri does not have any future ambition that will make him desperate to please any leader, same way he is not indebted politically or otherwise to any person or group of persons.
Senator Douye Diri was overwhelming elected by the Electorate in Bayelsa State who automatically employed him through their votes to manage their commonwealth and patrimony entrust, thus his absolute loyalty and commitment go to entire Bayelsans irrespective of political divide or affiliation. It is for the above reason that he has made Bayelsans the centre of everything.
Besides the humility, accessibility, passion and compassionate disposition of Gov. Douye Diri, it is a known fact that Bayelsa State is blessed with a leader that does not take any major or critical decision without consulting Bayelsans and major critical stakeholders.
It is a well known fact that Gov. Douye Diri has been under intense internal and external pressure for him to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the government at the centre, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Presently, the South South geopolitical zone that was 100% PDP zone has changed. Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River and Edo are now APC states. Suspended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has also spoken to his allies about his plans to defect to the party at the centre. At the moment, Bayelsa State the only homogenous Ijaw State in the country is standing alone like an orphan. Bayelsa is almost isolated.
Ijaw Nation with its headquarters in Bayelsa State has the highest population in the geographic Niger Delta region and also ranks as the fourth largest tribe in Nigeria. Beyond the issue of population, it also owns well over 65% of the crude oil and gas resources that are used to run, manage and develop the whole country.
Sadly, Ijaws that were the dominant forces in the Niger Delta have been relegated and rendered politically and economically redundant.
On the other hand, leaders from smaller minority tribes now control and lord over Ijaws simply because they are with the party and government at the centre, while Ijaws are in opposition. They do not only threaten at all times to use federal might against Ijaws, they also dictate how all the resources from Ijaw land are shared while Ijaws have suddenly become spectators.
Senator Douye Diri having served in two out of the three arms of government (executive, legislature and judiciary), and also held some of the greatest and most powerful positions does not have anything to gain from defection or the otherwise particularly when he is no longer contesting any election.
So, all well meaning sons and daughters of the Ijaw Nation SHOULD prevail on him to defect so that Bayelsa State and indeed, the Ijaw Nation shall regain her pride of place among comity of ethnic groups and tribes.
Ijaws are not among the first 40 or 50 Nigerians who are occupying significant offices starting from the Offices of the President and Vice President to the Service Chiefs and others. The only office of the Head of Service of the Federation an Ijaw woman is occupying is purely based on merit.
Ijaw Nation that is the fourth largest tribe in the country has suddenly become a minority voice due to her non-alignment with the government at the centre.
Our fathers like High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and Chief (Sen) Dr. Melford Obiene Okilo who fought and worked very hard to give us a political identity, advised and warned very strongly that Ijaws should never play opposition politics because of our difficult terrain and disadvantaged position and farness from the seat of power.
For example, the alignment of the Ijaw Nation with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which was the government at the centre helped the Ijaw Nation to produce the Vice President and later, the President of this country in the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan GCON/GCFR. But today, PDP whose leaders betrayed President Jonathan during the 2015 Election is a shadow of itself, hence the need for the Ijaw Nation to align with the present ruling party.
It is quite unfortunate that a group of persons have been recruited to prevail on Gov. Douye Diri to remain in PDP that has become a one-man political party.
Multiple sources have exposed the plans of these same set of persons who want to use judiciary to nullify the various primaries that PDP shall conduct during the 2027 Nomination and Selection of Candidates for various elective positions.
The Grand Plan is to ensure that all the persons who shall contest under the platform of PDP shall all loose their nominations like Plateau and other states.
Moving forward, Bayelsans need to wake up because Gov. Douye Diri was not elected by only PDP members. PDP alone cannot make any candidate to win election in Bayelsa state. So, at a time like this, we should not allow the primordial and parochial sentiments and interest of some persons to prevail at the expense and detriment of the whole state and the entire Ijaw Nation.
Bayelsa State is owned by all Bayelsans. Therefore, there is need for all Bayelsans to come together to prevail on Gov. Douye Diri who is not willing to defect, to defect and align with the centre without further delay.
As Asu Beks and his cohorts work continue in their divisive, deceptive and distractive adventure, their paymasters are already negotiating with the newly founded Coalition to take over the ADC party so that when they finally destroyed or take the final breathe of PDP, Gov. Douye Diri that they have discouraged to defect to the government at the centre will go and join ADC that is forming alliance with PDP and other opposition parties.
Their plan is for Gov. Douye Diri to go and work under them and their stooges, puppets and surrogates that they want to plant in the new coalition that is headed by the same Atiku, El-Rufai, Aregbesola, Amaechi and others that removed President Goodluck Jonathan from office.
I am happy that Bayelsans and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation are wiser.
~~~ Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli
Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Media and Public Affairs.