Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described as untrue insinuations in quarters that he intends to drop his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in his re-election bid.
Speaking at his country home in Sampou, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area (LGA) of the state when he played host to the immediate past Governor of the state, Senator Seriake Dickson, Diri said such rumours were baseless.
He said his Deputy has contributed significantly to the success of the administration and it will be unthinkable to drop him.
“Let me also state this to clear the air. My Deputy has worked very well and nobody told me to refer to him as workaholic and resourceful. Our pairing is a divine arrangement”, he said.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that the Diri/Ewhrudjakpo ticket was a divine project, which God used his predecessor, Senator Dickson, to make a reality.
Diri, who received Dickson in company of his wife, Dr. Gloria Diri, traditional rulers, and leaders of thought from Kolokuma/Opokuma, restated his appreciation to his predecessor for his role in his emergence as Governor of the state, saying himself and the people of Kolokuma/Opokuma will forever be grateful to him.
He also stated that Dickson laid a solid foundation upon which his administration is building and promised not to derail.
The state’s helmsman noted that as a human, he is not perfect and appealed to leaders and the people of the state to support him to enable him deliver the much needed development.
“We went to Toru-Orua for a Christmas and thank-you visit last week. There are certain things you do for a man and he will thank you until his death and that is what Senator Dickson has done.
“We never expected that our brother and friend, who has done this great thing, will also visit again today. You did not owe us this.
“On behalf of the kings and people of Kolokuma/Opokuma, we again express our gratitude to you. We are very grateful. God will always use a human and He used you to ensure that a Kolokuma son was picked as Governor.
“The ticket was divine otherwise we will not be here. Even if I speak until night, it cannot express the gratitude in our hearts.
“Whatever success we are recording today is because you laid a solid foundation. Most of the projects we execute today, you started them and I think that is the beauty of continuity in government.”
“If the other party came in and abandoned them, it is the state that will suffer. We are happy that we have carried on most of the projects you left for us.
Earlier, Senator Dickson said he was in Sampou on a new year visit and to deepen the relationship between him and the Governor, assuring that the success of the current prosperity administration remained his priority.
He said Governor Diri deserves all the honour and support he can get to move the state forward.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa