⚖️ Between Loyalty and Strategy: Hon. Wisdom Ikuli Defends Gov. Diri Amid Political Realignments in South-South

🌍 GLOBAL EGBERI MEDIA INTERNATIONAL

Living Voices Series
Report by Prince Agbedeyi O. D
📅 June 16, 2025

In a bold and unapologetically patriotic rejoinder, Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Media and Public Affairs, has offered a fiery defense of Governor Douye Diri, rejecting what he described as politically motivated commentaries by veteran journalist Asu Beks and others concerning speculations around a potential defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The statement comes at a time of growing political permutations in Nigeria’s South-South region, particularly following the high-profile visit of Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to Gov. Diri at the Creek Haven Government House in Yenagoa.

📌 "Gov. Diri is Not a Puppet; He Knows What is at Stake"

Hon. Ikuli criticized efforts to interpret this visit as a precursor to a planned defection, warning detractors not to underestimate the political intelligence of the “Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation.” He dismissed Asu Beks’ Sunday Sun commentary, which suggested that Ijaw people would disown Gov. Diri if he defected, as speculative, misinformed, and lacking credible justification.

“Asu Beks had no cogent argument. He merely echoed the agenda of others,” Ikuli said, referring to a personal conversation they had following the article’s publication.

💡 Ijaw Nation Must Prioritize Interest Over Partisan Sentiments

Ikuli emphasized that the strategic interest of Bayelsa and the Ijaw Nation must override emotional loyalty to political parties. While acknowledging that PDP once served Ijaw interests, he asserted that the party has since been hijacked and now operates more as a private estate than a democratic institution.

He warned of a grand plot to politically isolate Gov. Diri within the PDP by frustrating his influence in the 2027 elections through legal manipulations and internal sabotage.

“They want him to remain the only PDP governor in South-South and then use the courts to nullify PDP primaries in Bayelsa,” he warned.

🛑 Rethinking the Role of Ijaw in National Politics

Ikuli’s statement urges a rethinking of Ijaw political participation, noting that despite being Nigeria’s fourth-largest ethnic group and producing a president in Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Ijaw nation has been relegated to political obscurity in recent times.

He argues that Ijaw people must stop playing the role of sacrificial lambs in the nation’s political power play, stressing that Bayelsa should align with the federal government to maximize developmental opportunities.

“We must not tie Bayelsa to any one party. PDP, APC, LP—these are mere vehicles. Our destination should be power, economic growth, and federal integration.”

🚧 The Diri Transformation Agenda: Laying Foundations for the Future

Hon. Ikuli also used the opportunity to highlight landmark projects initiated by Gov. Diri, which he described as foundational and transformative:

• Nembe-Brass Road linking Bayelsa to the Atlantic coast
• Agge Deep Seaport Project aimed at maritime industrialization
• 60MW Twin Gas Turbine Power Plant to power Yenagoa and beyond
• Massive infrastructure developments turning Bayelsa into a “construction site”

These, he argued, will only gain traction if Bayelsa has the political alignment necessary to attract federal support.

🌊 Ijaws Must Reclaim Their Position

In closing, Ikuli posed a vital rhetorical challenge:

“Why should Ijaws, who produce over 65% of Nigeria’s crude oil and gas, be playing second fiddle in South-South politics while minorities from oil-rich states dominate because they are aligned with the centre?”

He called on all well-meaning Ijaw leaders and citizens to prevail on Governor Douye Diri to consider defection not out of desperation, but as a strategic alignment for the survival and prosperity of Bayelsa and the Ijaw Nation.

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✍️ Reported by: Prince Agbedeyi Odimientimi Desmond
For: Global Egberi Media International
📅 Published: June 16, 2025

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