Diri
Diri: How I rejected ritual offer to become Bayelsa Gov
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has narrated how he rejected an offer by a senior citizen of Nigeria who invited him to Abuja and advised him to perform certain rituals to be governor of the state.
Diri declared that his absolute faith in God earned him the sobriquet ‘Miracle Governor.’
Speaking during the KOLGA (Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area) Annual Day of Thanksgiving held in Sampou, his community, Diri revealed how he turned down the ritual offering in 2020.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, had challenged the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 2019 governorship poll as the winner of the governorship poll, adding that the matter was then pending at the Supreme Court when the senior citizen flew in some marabouts from Senegal to perform the rituals.
He stated that when he bluntly rejected the offer, the man demanded a refund of the money spent to transport them into the country, adding that he paid $10,000.
He explained that his unshaken faith in God made him decline the advice to look elsewhere for help, saying God, against all the odds, proved that He is always faithful.
He emphasised the need for politicians to learn from his experience and put their trust in God rather than in man.
Diri averred that the KOLGA people had reasons to be thankful to God, given the level of development they had witnessed, and thanked the council for giving the Thanksgiving Day legal backing through legislation.
The governor also expressed gratitude to Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, the convener, and those who have sustained the programme.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, shared a remarkable story of faith and integrity during the KOLGA Annual Day of Thanksgiving in Sampou, his community.
He revealed how a senior Nigerian citizen invited him to Abuja in 2020, offering to facilitate his governorship through certain rituals. However, Diri declined, citing his unwavering faith in God.
This encounter occurred while Diri’s governorship case was pending at the Supreme Court. The senior citizen had flown in marabouts from Senegal to perform the rituals but demanded a $10,000 refund after Diri rejected the offer. Despite this, Diri’s faith remained unshaken, and he ultimately emerged victorious.
Diri emphasized the importance of trusting in God rather than seeking help through unscrupulous means. He encouraged politicians to learn from his experience and prioritize their faith.
The governor also expressed gratitude to the KOLGA people for their support and acknowledged the significant development they had witnessed ¹.
During the event, Diri thanked Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, the convener of the thanksgiving program, and those who had sustained the initiative. His story serves as a testament to the power of faith and integrity in leadership.