A former Labour Party ,LP, Governorship Candidate in Bayelsa, Mr Udengs Eradiri, has called on Gov. Douye Diri and his predecessor, Sen. Seriake Dickson, to integrate the Ijaw nation into the government at the centre.

Eradiri, in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, told the two political leaders that there was no better time than now to move the Ijaws into the ruling All Progressives Congress ,APC.

Describing the current period as the time of political realignment, Eradiri said that the Ijaws could experience political alienation if Diri and Dickson failed to flow with the political reality.

He specifically said that the two political leaders should join APC in order to create the required opportunity for the Ijaws to play crucial roles in the corridors of power.

Eradiri, a former President of Ijaw Youths Council ,IYC, said that taking such a political decision would attract more infrastructural and manpower development.

According to him, the Ijaw nation will gain nothing by being in opposition to the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, but will only be left to wallow in the political wilderness.

He appealed to Diri and Dickson to forgo personal interests and see the bigger picture, insisting that their joining APC would be in the overall interest of the Ijaw nation.

Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa, reminded them that their past political fathers, living and dead, used to align with any government at the centre.

“The time for political realignment for the ijaw nation is now.

“The current political equation in Nigeria presently will alienate the ijaw race if we don’t strategise immediately and take a decision to join the ruling party.

“I am calling on Sen. Seriake Dickson and Gov. Douye Diri to join APC now to guarantee the Ijaw nation a place in decision-making at the centre.

“This is no longer the time for bravado. There is nothing or no point to prove being in opposition to President Tinubu’s government, as it will only alienate Ijaws politically.

“Our fathers had always aligned with the centre and Ijaws, no matter how bad, had always had some say in government. But today, we have no voice in the APC-led Federal Government.

“Dickson being a former governor and now senator and Douye Diri, a former senator and now governor, will give the Ijaws a voice at the national government if they heed this clarion call and move to APC”, he said.

Eradiri called on them to jettison their personal interests and take the step, saying that it would be in the overall interest of Ijaw nation.

“Ijaws cannot be onlookers. Our resources sustain Nigeria; so we must be strategic to advance the development of Bayelsa and Ijaw nation”, he said. 

Brave New Vision Support Group, a group mobilising  support for Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State ahead of  2027 presidential election, has inaugurated state coordinators for 17 southern states.

The Convener and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, during the inauguration, said that Makinde remained the best option for  PDP  for  2027 presidential election.

According to Pearse, the group decided to call for  Makinde’s presidency after a thorough evaluation of his  education , skills, work experience, record of performance and  vision for Nigeria.

“Gov. Abiodun Oluwaseyi Makinde is an amiable personality. He is straightforward and forthright in dealing with all he comes across.

“He is a compassionate person who takes his professional life as responsibly as he takes his personal life. He is an intelligent man.

“Gov. Makinde is a God-fearing man. Nobody is perfect ,but Makinde has made a name for himself as a man of integrity. We want a viable, young Nigerian to come and lead us to fix Nigeria for us.

“One of the reasons why we are doing this is to let people know that PDP is alive and well. If Gov. Makinde gets the ticket of the PDP to run for President, he will win and be the next President.

“Our appeal and support is based on our strong conviction that Seyi Makinde is the PDP’s best option to defeat any candidate which may be presented by the other political parties for the 2027 presidential race”, Pearse said.

According to him, Makinde, with huge credentials and verifiable performances in private and public services, has the capacity to fix the country.

Pearse said that Makinde would restructure the country for enhanced governance, accountability, security, economy, power generation, education among others.

He appealed to potential delegates to the PDP National Convention  to cast their votes for Makinde to brighten the chances of the party in 2027.

Speaking , Alhaja Atinuke Babs- Olorunkemi, the Chairperson of the support group, said Makinde had the capacity  to meet the expectations  of Nigerians, describing him as a leader with  empathy.

Also speaking, the Convener, Progressive Youths for Makinde Presidency, Prince Chris Odianarewo, urged Nigerian youths to queue behind Makinde in 2027 for hope and opportunities.

Speaking on behalf of the tate Coordinators, Mr  Marcel Anyanwu, the Imo Coordinator,  urged all coordinators to begin massive mobilisation for the Oyo governor.

According to Chief Victor Obiofu, the Rivers Coordinator of the group, Nigeria needed  a leader with character like Makinde, to tackle its challenges.

Also, Hajia Oluwatoyin Oyegbori, the Oyo State Coordinator, urged Nigerians to unite for Makinde  and work towards his emergence as the next President.

Chief Effiong Myong, the Cross Rivers Coordinator, who noted that the battle for 2027 presidency would be tough, urged all stakeholders to come together and work  to actualise Makinde presidency.

Alhaji Rahman Owokoniran, a former South West PDP Zonal Secretary, said that Nigeria would be better with Makinde in 2027, describing him as  humane.

“Our major concern should be voting out APC in 2027. We have someone who has the qualities that people want. Makinde will bring humanity to governance and alleviate the sufferings of ordinary Nigerians.