Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, has been advised to face the serious business of governance and refrain from voicing unfounded security concerns during a large-scale rally in support of Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The minister would have notified security agencies on his own if he intended to attend any rally.
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In response to the Bayelsa State Governor’s assertion that “a mega rally and inauguration of a group loyal to the FCT Minister, was being planned to hold in the State,” Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media for the FCT Minister, stated: “That alarm is shamefully baseless! “It is so unfortunate that a Governor with all the security apparatus available to him could go on national television on mere suspicion of people planning a rally, which is their rights to hold.”
“Is this how much the governor is afraid of Wike?” he said, adding that Nigerians are free to show their support for anyone, anywhere, at any time. If people wish to hold rallies in the state, can the governor prevent them from doing so? According to Olayinka, the FCT Minister is not frightened of anything, thus if he plans to attend a political event in Bayelsa State or anyplace else, he will notify security services on his own and his involvement will be visible.
“Is this how childish governance in Bayelsa State has become?” he asked, pointing out that it was absurd that a governor had to call meetings of the Security Council and the Bayelsa Elders Council to examine the possibility that someone was organising a gathering for Wike.
Must he use Wike as a pretext to hide his political and governing failures? Olayinka went on to say that it was amusing that when Governor Diri was vying for support for his reelection after Wike, he failed to recall that Bayelsa was not Rivers State or the Federal Capital Territory.
“This same Diri was taken to Wike like a robber in the night while he was running for reelection. Senator Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum, brought him. Then he was joined by David Lyon. Wike told him, “No, don’t do that, you’re a governor, don’t do that,” as he was pleading with him on his knees.
Regretfully, the same Wike has now turned into someone he disparages in order to hide his shortcomings. It’s regrettable that it’s so evident that certain people lack conscience. Senior Special Assistant for Social Media and Public Communications, Lere Olayinka 28 March 2025
