The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima says the defection of Governor Douye Diri from the Peoples’ Democratic Party to the All Progressives’ Congress means Bayelsa State has chosen national integration over isolation.
He made the remark in Yenagoa at a reception of the Governor and supporters to the APC.
Governor Diri used the occasion to state that he decided to leave the PDP due to the festering crisis in the Party.
It was a colourful atmosphere at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, venue of the reception as women dressed in traditional attire, youth and political groups danced to local songs by artistes such as Ijaw music crooner, Izon-ebi Alfred.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima described the defection of Governor Douye Diri from the PDP to the APC as a historic moment that would ensure the integration of the Ijaw ethnic nationality to national politics.
The Vice President who formally pronounced Governor Diri as the leader of the APC in Bayelsa following his defection, asserted that the Administration of President Bola Tinubu was committed the democratic ethos and unity of the nation, assuring that the State would benefit more by aligning with the centre.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio stated that the movement of the South-South Governors to the APC meant the region was well positioned to take its rightful place in the politics of the nation.
Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda while presenting the party’s flag to Governor Diri expressed joy that the Progressives were swelling by ranks across the country.
In a remark, Governor Douye Diri said he defected from the Peoples’ Democratic Party to the APC due to the crisis in the PDP which according to him was instigated by some persons and to integrate the Ijaw nation to mainstream politics in order to attract more development from the centre to the State.
Earlier, Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State stated that the defection of the Bayelsa Leader to the All Progressives Congress was indicative of the performance of the APC led Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
The event was attended by some APC Governors, serving and former National Assembly and State Assembly members, Party Chieftains amongst others.
