BLUE PRINT NIGERIA

Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, has pledged to run an all-inclusive administration that would ensure equity and fair representation of all interest groups.

Though he is yet to constitute a cabinet since he assumed office on February 4, following a Supreme Court verdict on Bayelsa Governorship poll, he assured that fair play and justice would remain his cardinal principle.

Governor Diri had appealed to the people to exercise patience for at least three months to enable constitute the cabinet, adding that permanent secretaries would continue to supervise their respective ministries.

The Acting Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Mr Daniel Alabra, in a statement issued on Sunday said Diri made the promise during a solidarity visit of the Kolokuma/Opokuma Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Government House in Yenagoa.

They were on a mission to congratulate Diri on his recent victory in a suit challenging his candidature at the Supreme Court.

Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, who contested the PDP primaries alongside Diri and 19 others, had challenged the emergence of Diri as the party’s standard bearer and the courts ruled in Diri’s favour and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court on July 14.

The governor said Bayelsans are one people with a common heritage, hopes and aspirations, and therefore, urged them to rally round his administration to ensure sustainable peace and development.

Diri said all hands should be on deck to bring into fruition the policies and programmes of the present administration.

“Governance is a collective responsibility and the cooperation of the people is a major contributory factor to the success or failure of any government,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the PDP caucus in his local government for their steadfastness and prayers, restating that his victory at the apex court was a divine intervention.

In his remarks, the caucus chairman, Mr. Isaac Kumokou, expressed joy that Kolokuma/Opokuma clans have produced a governor and congratulated him on his Supreme Court victory.

Kumokou said Diri has made Kolokuma/Opokuma proud, stressing that any government divinely instituted cannot be uprooted.

He assured the governor of their loyalty and preparedness to support his administration to succeed.