A group under the aegis of the New Generation Leaders (NGL) said that it has uncovered a plot by the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, to trick the state’s founding fathers into attending a planned meeting where his candidature will be endorsed ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
The group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Precious Odede, on Saturday, appealed to the founding fathers not to attend the meeting, saying it would be disguised as a gathering to advance the interest of the state.
He stated that Diri had plotted to lure the Bayelsa statesmen to the Government House for the stage-managed meeting, which he would use to achieve their tacit approval of his second term bid.
Describing the move as the governor’s latest desperation, Odede claimed that Diri after failing abysmally in his first four years in office had resorted to deploying ridiculous strategies, including adoption of deception, to portray himself as a popular candidate.
He advised the state founding fathers to note that, at first, the agenda would be presented as pro-Bayelsa meeting but the objective at the end would be unveiled with announcement in the media that they were behind the governor.
Odede wondered why Diri was planning to use his privileged position to intimidate and humiliate the state founding fathers, who were already disappointed at his performance.
While showering encomiums on the founding fathers and elders, Odede appealed to them to scrutinise any invitation for a meeting ahead of the polls.
He said the elders should be wondering why the governor never engaged them since he assumed office over four years ago but chose a period close to his defeat at the polls to do so.
Odede said, “Again, we have uncovered a plot to get our dearly revered founding fathers and elders to a meeting that would seem a pro-Bayelsa meeting, but at the end of the day announcements would be made and the media will fly with stories of an endorsement.
“Unfortunately, many of our dearly revered founding fathers and elders would be taken aback because they would, of course, be wondering the purpose for the visit.
“We condemn in totality the planned move to humiliate and take advantage of our founding fathers and very respected elders. Over the years, we have known and seen them as apolitical, poised always just to the collective growth of our state.
“They are fathers to us all and sacrificing the integrity, reverence they have on the alter of politics is one of the most desperate political adventures we have ever heard.
“While we appreciate, adore and endorse our founding fathers and elders council, we may at this point advise that they scrutinise invites at this point as it is very close to the election.
“We eternally thank the Bayelsa State founding fathers and the elders council, and we are aware that in their great wisdom no politician can trick them into a meeting that would be announced as an endorsement of governor Douye Diri.”
