Assessing Diri’s ‘olive branch’ in Bayelsa

BY RAYMOND NKANNEBE

Save for his decision not to form a cabinet at least until another three months, not many would argue that the newly sworn in Governor of Bayelsa state, Duoye Diri has not started well in the discharge of what some might call an assignment of providence given the circumstances in which he eased through Creek Haven last week. Apparently conscious of the charged political climate in the state with the Supreme Court judgement that aborted the David Lyon-Degi Biobarakuma political fairytale, the Ijaw born governor has taken the message of peace to his adversaries calling them to join hands in taking the state further than where his predecessor left it.

At least on two occassions since his coming into power, the man has not minced words in his determination to run a coalition government, if that is the price to pay for the needed stability in the oil rich state. At the swearing in ceremony last week amidst calling for magnanimity in victory he stated this conviction unequivocally thus: “I and my deputy bring hope and prosperity to Bayelsa State,that is why we urge Bayelsans to learn to forgive one another, we come to serve the people of this great state, and serve as the instrument of peace”.

“It’s a day that God has made, and a day marvellous in our eyes, my dear people of Bayelsa State, this is a state that we all wanted to create, as a serving member of Ijaw National Congress, (INC) we traversed the length and breadth of Nigeria and all of us wanting to create a state that can develop our region and our area, today, we have a state and we must develop it. As we have been sworn in as the governor and deputy, my advice to our party, the PDP, is that we have to be magnanimous in victory.”

Elsewhere at a meeting with members of the State House of Assembly comprising politicians from the PDP and the APC, the governor maintained the message of peace and reconciliation: “Let us join hands to build Bayelsa State. We must leave a legacy of development, love and hope for our people. Our state is in dire need of development in all facets. Education for instance is the bedrock and foundation of any society. We will invest more in critical infrastructure,”.

While calling for all warring factions to sheathe their swords and focus on the core business of governance which is paramount to Bayelsans, he enthused, “We cannot use our hands to destroy the state we all sought to have. All the feuding parties should stop and let us see ourselves as brothers and sisters. Then, focus on things that will bring us together. That is when we can experience development“.

With these well ordered steps, there is no gainsaying the fact that the former legislator understands what is at stake in the state which Providence has thrust in his hands. This is particularly so in the context of the recent events in some states in the South South and the South East region where power of incumbency has been applied rather vindictively to shame and embarrass opposition elements.

Within his 7 month stint as the governor of Imo state before being sacked by a controversial Supreme Court ruling, Emeka Ihedioha and his party deployed a considerable portion of their time in levying war against the former governor of the state, Senator Rochas Okorocha perhaps to dance to the tune of popular sentiments. Even though in fairness to the ill-fated governor, his body language betrayed a man who had come to do his beat in the socio economic development of the state, that needless political vendetta cast a pall to his short lived reign. Political scientists and conspiracy theorists may argue that all of those aggregated to bring about his controversial sacking by the apex Court of the land.

Enter not too distant Edo state where the incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki and his erstwhile Godfather, who double as the chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomole has been enmeshed in a theatrical game of thrones that has left Edo the worst for it. But all of these examples mean nothing to the soft spoken Duoye Diri who have rather than crush his political enemies with the instrument of coercion at his disposal, have chosen to wave the proverbial olive branch perhaps conscious of the fact that growth and development can only thrive in an environment of peace.

If anything, the ball I think is well seated in the half of the opposition APC who must now consider Duoye Diri’s invitation to form a government having explored all available legal means to reverse the February 13th decision of the Supreme Court that altered the power dynamics in the state. By their nature, politicians especially on our own shores are proud and egotistical believing in the zero sum approach to power where the winner takes it all.

Thus, it would be difficult to imagine that the APC in the state will take Diri’s message to heart. Yet, it is gratifying to note that he has reasoned and acted as a true democract. Whether he goes ahead to nominate commissioners from the camp of the APC in spite of their unwillingness to form a government with him, will however remain to be seen.

Nevertheless, the biggest test of this conciliatory and reconciliatory disposition of the governor is within his own party and not without. We may call this the Timi Alaibe hurdle.

Having participated at the primary election that produced Governor Duoye Diri as the candidate of the PDP, the former chairman of the NDDC is still in Court challenging the circumstances of the emergence of Diri and claiming the position for himself. The implications of such a challenge can be catastrophic in the event of its success especially at the apex Court where the suit may likely be determined to finality. Remember the case of Amechi and Celestine Omehia in neighbouring Rivers State 13 years ago.

For Governor Diri and his camp therefore, herein lies the elephant in the room. How they handle the Timi Alaibe logjam may well determine the length of their stay in power.

Hence the governor may be prepared to do the unimaginable so as to assuage the well lubricated Alaibe political armada to withdraw their action at a Federal High Court challenging his candidacy of the PDP at the last election. Assuming the Governor is able to get around it, he would have succeeded in scoring a political milestone that would shape his administration. In a worst case scenario however, the people of the state may well prepare for another political tsunami for which the state has now gained a reputation.

Ihedioha’s dance with destiny

Later today, the Supreme Court will be expected to rule on a motion filed by the PDP and the former governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha asking it to review it’s judgment of 14th January that ushered in the Hope Uzodinma administration. A similar step in that direction by the APC and the  former deputy Governor-elect Degi Biobarakum-Eremieyo following the judgement of the Court  over the pre-election dispute filed by the PDP and its then candidate Duoye Diri ended in a very disappointing fashion for the Applicants and their team of seasoned lawyers who were slammed with cost in excess of 30 Million Naira as the Court refused to reverse itself, describing the application as frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the Judicial process. Ihedioha’s legal team argue however that their case is different from those of the APC in Bayelsa. Whoever is right, the unmistakable fact is that for Emeka Ihedioha, this is a battle with destiny.

Raymond Nkannebe, a legal practitioner, writes from Lagos. He tweets @RayNkah