BAYELSA State Governor Douye Diri has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in the state will support any presidential aspirant of the party that will restructure Nigeria if elected. Diri spoke when he received former Senate President and presidential aspirant, Senator Bukola Saraki, in Government House, Yenagoa. Diri noted that as an oil and gas producing state, which contributes huge revenue to the country’s economy, restructuring would ensure equity and fairness to the oil-producing Niger Delta region, the state and the Ijaw nation in particular.
The governor said the Federal Government, as presently constituted, did not encourage productivity and competitiveness, rather, he said, it turned the federating units to beggars where states went cap in hand to Abuja on a basis for revenue sharing. He said there is too much concentration of power at the centre, which has prevented the country from functioning effectively, adding that devolution of power would enable states to develop at their own pace.
Diri stressed that only the PDP is capable of tackling the challenges facing Nigeria and restore it to the path of growth and honour it was known for. He said the former Senate President had the credentials to govern the country considering the experience he had garnered from serving in different capacities over the years.
Diri also stated that despite being a believer and advocate of power shift and zoning, he had accepted the decision of the party to allow aspirants from all parts of the country to vie for the presidency and would work to ensure that a candidate that represents the interest of the party and country emerges. Earlier, Senator Saraki said Nigeria was moving towards becoming a failed state in terms of security and its poor economy and needs a competent person to reverse the drift.
According to the former Kwara State governor, having served in different capacities, he has the experience both from the private and public sectors to lead the country out of its near state of collapse. He said he is bold and can spearhead restructuring of the country if elected as president in the 2023 election.
Saraki appealed for support from the state’s delegates in the forthcoming party primary election.