Opinion: How Diri Betrayed Wike In The PDP Presidential Primaries, The Need For Wike To Retaliate In The November 11th Bayelsa Gubernatorial Election

By Chief Perekeme Wilson

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has been accused of betraying Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Primaries which produced Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the Party Flagbearer in the concluded 2023 presidential election.

The Presidential Primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded a lot of betrayals between leaders and stakeholders of the party mostly in the Southern region where Governors under the party betrayed the frontline presidential aspirant of the party, Governor Nyesom Wike.

Recall that Southern PDP and APC Governors convened a meeting in Lagos and agreed of the important need for both political parties to produce the presidential candidate from the region, considering the eight years administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the Northern region for equity, justice and fairness.

Southern PDP Governors further convened a meeting in Asaba, Delta State to reiterate that the southern region must produce the PDP presidential candidate according to the constitution of the party for equity, justice and fairness, which was unanimously agreed by all Governors in the region to work for a southern presidential candidate.

Investigations indicates that Diri as the Deputy Chairman of the PDP Presidential Primaries Planning Committee played a major role with the support of some Southern and Northern big wings of the PDP to work against Wike from getting the PDP Presidential ticket betraying the southern presidency agenda.

Further investigations indicates that Diri instructed Bayelsa PDP delegates to vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar against Governor Nyesom Wike in the PDP presidential primaries that was held on the 28th and 29th of May, 2022.

PDP after the presidential primaries set up 18-Member Committee to produce the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, which Wike was recommended. But Diri connived with other Southern and Northern big wings of the PDP to make everything possible to ensure that Wike doesn’t get the PDP Vice Presidential ticket.

Southern PDP Governors betrayed themselves and the region presidency agenda. Diri connived with other PDP stalwarts to recommend Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, while Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike were left to lick his wounds after been betrayed by his trusted friends.

Wike in his magnanimity pleaded with Timi Alaibe to make peace with Douye Diri, as a result of what transpired in the 2019 PDP governorship primaries, but in spite of all the support Wike rendered to Diri, Diri was one of those that stood firmly against Wike’s presidential and vice presidential tickets in the PDP.

Diri’s betrayal lifestyle is well-known across boards. Diri betrayed his first political godfather, Timi Alaibe after making so much promises to him after settling their individual differences, but none was fulfilled. Diri also betrayed his second political godfather, Seriake Dickson after assumption in office as Governor.

What Diri did to the former PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus is worthy to be mentioned too. Diri betrayed Secondus by embracing the immediate past PDP national chairman, Ayu Iyorchia. Secondus went against Wike’s wish and gave Diri the Bayelsa governorship ticket in 2019.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in a press conference in Port-harcourt last week while responding to the suspension of the former PDP national chairman, Ayu Iyorchia stated his readiness to pay back all those who betrayed him in the PDP presidential primaries with their own coin.

The November 11th Bayelsa governorship election will be the best opportunity for the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to reciprocate the actions of the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, by working against the reelection of Governor Douye Diri in the general election.