Former President Goodluck Jonathan declared that he had no regrets for backing Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s reelection in the governorship poll conducted off-season on November 11, 2023.
Jonathan defended his choice by stating that it was the appropriate one because the governor was still supported by the majority of the state’s citizens to hold office.
He said this on Tuesday during Diri and a powerful delegation’s thank-you visit to his home in Yenagoa.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Daniel Alabrah, the Chief Press Secretary of Diri, Patience, the wife of the former President, was present to greet the governor and his delegation.
After receiving 175,196 votes, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Diri defeated All Progressives Congress contender Timipre Sylva, who received 110,108 votes, to be declared the election’s victor.
Jonathan clarified that he openly supported Diri’s candidacy during the elections due to the visionary leadership he had shown in managing state issues.
He claimed that because of the governor’s efforts to advance the state, especially in maintaining peace and stability, he should be re-elected.
The former president said, “I did what I did during the governorship election and I have no apologies to anybody because I know that the governor and his team were doing very well, especially in the area of peace and stability of the state. At a time, l became very worried.
“I have not said others did not do well. After all, I was also governor for a little less than one and a half years and also had my challenges.
“Since Diri came on board, the excesses of cult groups, particularly in Yenagoa, have reduced reasonably. If we must move forward, first and foremost, we must handle the issue of security in order to attract investors. I saw that the governor and his team have a vision and he needed to be encouraged to do another four-year term.”
He reminded the governor that “to whom much was given, much was expected,” and he tasked the governor with doing more to live up to the high standards of the enormous base of support for his Prosperity Administration.
In response, Diri expressed gratitude to the outgoing president for his backing and recommendation, which helped the PDP win the election.
In order to maintain peace and prosperity, the governor voiced optimism that Jonathan would have more opportunities to mediate disputes between citizens of the nation and the continent of Africa.
He said, “Your endorsement of a sitting governor was more than billions of naira. And so, having secured that endorsement, we were very sure of victory. We are here to say a big thank you, as that has brought stability in the state.
“So, with the kind of peace and security we have in our state, Bayelsa is ready for private investors to come in.”
Diri also thanked President Bola Tinubu for ensuring a peaceful, free and credible election in the state.
