EFCC probe forced Governor Diri’s defection to APC, he doesn’t love Tinubu — PDP claims

Nigerianewslite

The Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State has alleged that Governor Douye Diri defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress to escape an impending investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into his administration’s financial transactions.

The opposition party also criticised Diri’s administration over what it described as the collapse of healthcare facilities across the state, accusing the government of failing to provide essential drugs, doctors and nurses, particularly in rural communities.

The Bayelsa PDP chairman, Turnah, made the allegations during a joint meeting of the party’s expanded state caucus and its 100th State Executive Committee meeting in Yenagoa.

Speaking on the governor’s defection, Turnah claimed that Diri’s decision to join the APC was motivated by fears of an EFCC investigation rather than support for President Bola Tinubu or the ruling party.

“The governor defected to the APC not because he loves President Tinubu or the APC. His defection to the APC was because of the impending probe by the EFCC,” he said.

Turnah also questioned Diri’s commitment to Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that the Bayelsa State Government had not demonstrated visible support for the president.

“Just look around Bayelsa State, do you see any billboard by the state government declaring support for the re-election of President Tinubu? You won’t find any because the move to APC was just to escape investigation,” he alleged.

The PDP chairman did not provide details of the alleged EFCC investigation during the remarks contained in the statement.

PDP Accuses Diri Government Of Neglecting Healthcare

Turnah also condemned the state of healthcare delivery under Diri, claiming that primary healthcare centres in rural communities lacked essential medicines and medical personnel.

He alleged that facilities established or inherited from the administration of former governor Henry Seriake Dickson had deteriorated under the current government.

“Our health system is in ruins. Primary healthcare centres in rural areas are without drugs, doctors and nurses,” he said.

He further claimed that the diagnostic centre commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and built by Dickson within the 500-bed hospital had collapsed.

The PDP chairman’s remarks came amid broader criticism of the state government’s management of public resources, with the opposition accusing the administration of failing to provide adequate information about the costs of its projects.

Turnah also questioned the amount spent on the recent celebration of Bayelsa State’s 30th anniversary, alleging that the expenditure was not included in the state’s appropriation bill.

He accused the Bayelsa State House of Assembly of failing to hold the executive accountable for its spending, describing the legislature as a rubber stamp.

“The Bayelsa State owes Bayelsans an explanation on the actual amount spent for the 30th anniversary, as it was not in the state appropriation bill,” he said.

“That money was spent outside the budget, and in a sane democracy, that is an impeachable offence. The State House of Assembly, by condoning this waste, has shown that it is a rubber stamp.”

The PDP chairman called on the Diri administration to publicly disclose the full cost of the anniversary celebrations.

“We demand that the Diri administration publish, in naira and kobo, the expenditure of the Bayelsa at 30 celebrations,” he said.

“Until this is done, the Diri administration owes Bayelsans a public apology for the wasteful spending of their scarce resources.