Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has inaugurated a reconciliation committee in the state as part of efforts to reconcile aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after its concluded National and House of Assembly primaries.
Diri mandated the committee to ensure that all issues are addressed and aggrieved persons are reached.
The inaugration took place on Tuesday when the governor met with candidates and party leadership at the Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital.
The governor, while congratulating candidates and party officials for the successful conduct of the primaries, said it is important to ensure that all members would unite and work in synergy for victory in the 2023 elections.
He called on candidates to extend a hand of fellowship to their opponents, urging them to shun politics of violence and thuggery.
“We are inaugurating the reconciliation committee, which is a standing committee, as enshrined in the constitution of our party. It is to address fallouts and the outcome of our party’s primaries and see how best we can continue to remain as a party and put our best foot forward to ensure we are victorious come 2023.”
Speaking further, he said it was also necessary to sensitize the electorate on the need to excise their civil rights.
He further thanked aspirants that voluntarily withdrew from the primaries and announced the reinstatement of those who resigned their appointments to contest.
According to him, “the umbrella is big enough to accommodate all those who did not make it in the primaries.
“I like you to join forces with them. Out of the 24 state Assembly seats, we need to take back the remaining four. Be reconciliatory in your approach to also win the federal constituency seats.”
Diri, who described members of the committee as credible and very senior officials of the party, charged them to approach their assignment with the utmost responsibility to unite the party.
Responding on behalf of the committee members, the chairman, Senator Rufus Inatimi-Spiff, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in the committee and assured him that they would carry out their mandate with utmost responsibility.
Other members of the committee include Mr. Austin Lugbenwei (Vice-chairman); Victor Vianana (Secretary); Chief Theophilus Moses, Dr. Andrew Ebakpa, Prof. Tarilah Tebepah, Chief Bright Erewari, Hon, Elliot Osomu among others.
