Governor Diri Reveals He Rejected Ritual Offer to Become Bayelsa Governor

By: Bayero Ade

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has disclosed that he turned down an offer to perform rituals to secure his governorship, choosing instead to rely on his faith in God.

According to Politics Nigeria, Governor Diri made this revelation during the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area (KOLGA) Annual Day of Thanksgiving held in his hometown, Sampou.

He recounted how, in 2020, a prominent Nigerian invited him to Abuja and suggested that he undertake certain rituals to guarantee his ascension to the governorship. Diri refused, citing his strong belief in God as the reason for his decision.

This occurred while he was contesting the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winner of the November 2019 Bayelsa governorship election, a case still pending before the Supreme Court at the time.

Diri said, “I want to thank God and Apostle David Zilly Aggrey for initiating this thanksgiving event. Through prayers, God paved the way for my victory. Let me share an experience that underscores the importance of trusting in God. A senior citizen once invited me to Abuja and proposed that I carry out sacrifices to ensure I became governor. I declined because of my faith in God. He became angry, claiming I would never achieve my goal. He also demanded a refund of $10,000, which he said he spent on preparations for the rituals. I returned the money.”

The governor further revealed that the Supreme Court’s ruling in his favor left the individual stunned, and he was unable to reach out afterward. Unfortunately, the person passed away some time later.

Diri urged politicians to maintain civility and trust in God’s plans, saying, “We must avoid harming others in the name of politics. Only God determines who rises to greatness. As a state and as Kolokuma/Opokuma people, we have every reason to give thanks to God.”

The Supreme Court nullified the 2019 governorship election results, declaring Diri the rightful winner. He assumed office on February 14, 2020, and was re-elected in 2023.