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By:Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa.
Senator representing Bayelsa central and People Domocratic party governorship candidate,senator Douye Diri and his running mate,senator for Bayelsa West,Lawrence Ewhrujakpo Friday were sworn-in as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state.
Senators Diri and Ewhrujakpo emerged first runner up in the 2019 Bayelsa State Governorship election.
Administering the oaths of office of Governor and of allegiance on Diri,Chief Judge of the state,Kate Abiri described it as a solemn constitutional duty of the Judiciary.
Abiri in her pre-oath administering remarks noted that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as(amended) empowers the chief Judge of the state to administer the oaths of office and of allegiance to the Governor and deputy,saying they signify authority to the occupants of the duo offices.
In his inaugural address,Governor Diri described Bayelsans irrespective of political parties and affiliations as one,stressing that it is unnecessary and inhuman to maim fellow citizens and political opponents in the guise of aspiring for political position.
The Governor maintained that his mandate was divinely restored,commending the outgone Governor, Seriake Dickson,his team and the Peoples Democratic party for standing by him and his Deputy. “I give all thanks to God for the divine mandate. Like our outgone Governor said it: if you serve God and people well others will serve you. There’s no need killing one another in the name of politics.”
He said, “We’re here to serve you,many years ago as a member of the Ijaw national congress we traversed the length and breadth of this nation for the creation of this state. Today Bayelsa is our state,if we kill ourselves in the name of politics, destroy one another where do we go to?”He added.
The swearing-in ceremony attracted major political bigwigs of the peoples Democratic party,PDP among whom are the party’s national chairman, Uche secondus. Other dignitaries who graced the event were the Governors of Bauchi and Oyo states just as there Delta state counterpart was represented by some of his aides.
Meanwhile a dusk-dawn curfew has been imposed in Yenagoa,the capital of Bayelsa state.
This according to sources may not be unconnected to violent protests in and around the state capital which has lasted for no fewer than two days, begining from Thursday immediately the supreme court verdict on the state’s Governorship polls.
