Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, has explained why he would not force his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join him in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diri formally joined the APC on November 3, after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on October 15.
However, his deputy Ewhrudjakpo has stayed put in the PDP.
To keep his office, he had sought a court injunction to prevent the state House of Assembly from impeaching him over his refusal to join the APC.
Speaking to the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, with Ewhrudjakpo present, Diri said he believes in engagement rather than confrontation as a matter of principle.
He preached peace in the state, stressing that power is transient.
The governor revealed that the case filed by Ewhrudjakpo at the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt a purported impeachment plan had been discontinued following their discussions.
He called on the people of the state to embrace unity and see politics as a means to promote development rather than sow division.
“Let me address an issue that has been a subject of speculation in the media. I do not intend to force people to join the APC but rather to appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have the power today, but not tomorrow,” he stated.
“It is actually difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another. But we will continue to talk, and we might end up at the same party tomorrow.
“We must not heat up the polity. We are done with violence in Bayelsa State. We are brothers and we are one. Politics should be for the development of the state and not to fight one another.”
