Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri promotes ethnic unity and political reform

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has addressed both regional ethnic unity and the evolving nature of Nigerian politics. In Yenagoa, Diri hosted a unity reception to conclude reconciliation efforts within the Ijaw National Congress (INC). The initiative followed a leadership dispute regarding the April 2026 election of High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe. Diri, who appointed a reconciliation committee to resolve the conflict, urged Ijaw leaders to prioritize collective identity and unity to ensure the ethnic group maintains influence in national affairs.

Separately, speaking at a retreat for the City Boy Movement (CBM), Governor Diri remarked that Nigerian politics is transitioning from violence and intimidation toward a knowledge-based electoral process. He commended youth-led strategic mobilization and expressed support for President Bola Tinubu, citing federal contributions to state development, such as road construction and gas turbine waivers. Diri emphasized the importance of working within established party structures to achieve political goals.