Defection: Diri, Dickson trade words over Ewhrudjakpo’s stand

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, on Monday exchanged subtle remarks over Diri’s defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the late deputy governor’s refusal to join the move.

Dickson spoke at his country home in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area, while reflecting on the life and times of the late deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. He revealed that he had personally asked Ewhrudjakpo to follow Governor Diri to the APC, but the late politician declined, insisting it was not the right decision.

According to Dickson, Ewhrudjakpo told him “the spirit of his fathers will not allow that,” stressing that only a principled person who was not driven by pecuniary benefits would reject such overtures. “Most people in Bayelsa don't know that I asked Lawrence to go to APC. I said to him go with your governor because your ticket is joint if that is what he has decided for his own reasons, then go with him,” Dickson said.

“And Lawrence looked straight at me and said sir, how can I go if you are not there with us? I don't think that that is right his conscience and even said that the spirit of his fathers’ will not allow that,” he added, quoting Ewhrudjakpo’s response.

Dickson further stated: “Lawrence told Governor Diri that my boss please bear with me, I have heard your reasons, we are not fighting, I can't fight you, I'm your deputy but bear with me, I can't look at Dickson, my conscience cannot accept that the party that gave me the platform to this level. He said, we went to court after they rigged us out. Dickson fought, God help. I cannot go to that party.”

Describing the late deputy governor as value-driven, Dickson said: “Lawrence was raised on the right values doing what was principled and right was more important than temporary inconvenience.” He warned that society declines when leaders act only on personal gain, adding that “we will end up having a society of mercenaries not principled leadership.” He noted that former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a tribute, urged politicians to learn from Ewhrudjakpo’s life of service and principle, clarifying, “But I am not saying that defection is wrong.”

In a veiled response, Governor Diri, speaking Monday night at the January edition of the monthly praise night at government house, said politics is dynamic and leaders must embrace change. In a statement issued Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, Diri was quoted as saying: “There is no static nature in politics because we have alignments and realignments. The development and progress of our state is the reason we are in politics. I do not just take decisions. I consult, I pray and my spirit tells me where I should go.”

“Most of you know my political trajectory. I have moved from one party to another from the National Solidarity Movement to the PDP and then to the Labour Party.Assuming I did not move, maybe I would not have become governor today. So, in politics, movement is allowed but do it out of conviction. Do not be a slave to anyone.The reason we are in politics is for the development and progress of our state,” the governor added.

Diri also dismissed claims of any impeachment plot against Ewhrudjakpo, explaining that his late deputy went to court without informing him due to fear of impeachment but later apologised and agreed to withdraw the case. “Nobody could have impeached him (Ewhrudjakpo) if I did not approve of it,” he stated.