Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has called on politicians in the state to pursue their ambitions strictly within the provisions of the law as activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also urged political actors to exercise restraint, stressing that politics should remain a platform for public service rather than personal gain.
The governor made the remarks on Wednesday during the weekly State Executive Council meeting held at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Yenagoa.
Diri assured that no aspirant would be denied the opportunity to contest, but emphasized the importance of respecting existing political arrangements, including zoning where applicable.
He also referenced directives within the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that where consensus fails, the party would proceed with direct primaries.
“We are in the political season and I like the way it is going because nobody is forcing anyone.
“For some obvious reasons, such as zoning, we spoke to some people and advised that where you have, for instance, a House of Assembly member that has served just a term, he should be allowed to return except otherwise, ” he said.
”If there is no consensus, the party has directed that we have direct primaries.
“I call on politicians to exercise restraint and pursue their ambitions based on existing rules and within the ambit of the law, ” he added.
During the same meeting, the state received several awards from different organisations in recognition of performance across key sectors.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, presented an award of exceptional leadership and outstanding contribution to healthcare development, public service, and human capital advancement.
The honour was conferred by nurses from Commonwealth countries.
According to Brisibe, the recognition reflected improvements in the state’s health sector, including the upgrade of the School of Nursing Sciences to a College of Nursing Sciences and the completion of a 250-capacity ICT centre at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Tombia.
He also highlighted the recruitment of 200 midwives and nurses into the primary healthcare system, alongside enhanced welfare and professional development programmes for health workers.
Brisibe added that the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, also recognised the governor for his long-standing contributions to healthcare development, including efforts dating back to his time as a federal lawmaker.
The Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Faith Izibenua-Zibs, presented an “Appreciation of Service Award” to the governor.
The award acknowledged his role in establishing Nigeria’s first subnational Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, conferred by the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management.
Similarly, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), presented an Environmental Rights Governance Award from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Human Rights Institute in collaboration with “Call A Lawyer.” The recognition, he said, reflected achievements in governance, environmental protection, and human rights promotion.
Reacting, Governor Diri expressed appreciation for the honours, describing them as collective achievements of the state administration.
“As I always say, it is our awards and all of us have done very well. I think we can all raise our heads up that we are not violating human rights in Bayelsa.
“For the health sector awards, again it is a plus to our government and our state for doing the needful to give health its due attention and I believe that we will not rest on our laurels as we continue to allocate resources to that sector.
“Also, we are a marine people and we have no reason not to create the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as our livelihood before now was all in the marine sector. So, I thought we must do the needful, particularly now that the Federal Government is giving us recognition, ” he added.
