Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has emphasized that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is greater than any individual and must focus on resolving its internal challenges to remain competitive.
Speaking at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja after inaugurating the party’s South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee, led by Elder Emma Ogidi, Diri stressed that party members, not just the leadership, bear the responsibility of addressing internal disputes.
“For me, we have to look inwards before accusing those outside our party. The PDP must first fix its internal issues before it can compete with others,” he stated.
As Chairman of the South-South PDP Governors Forum, Diri called for unity and discipline, affirming that no member is bigger than the party. He expressed confidence that the newly inaugurated zonal caretaker committee has the mandate to strengthen the PDP in the South-South region.
“With four PDP governors in the South-South, we have resolved to work together to strengthen the party,” he added.
Diri further advised the PDP to focus on self-improvement rather than blaming external influences, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for internal crises.
“It’s very easy to point fingers at outsiders, but the PDP must sit back and fix its own challenges before it can stand up to compete with others,” he said. “We are the oldest political party in Nigeria. We have no reason to blame others; instead, we must unite and resolve our issues.”
The governor described the inauguration of the caretaker committee as a step in the right direction, highlighting the unity among South-South PDP governors.
“In our zone, you will agree that we are the only region with four PDP governors, and we have all resolved to work together,” he noted. “Four of us are united— the deputy governor of Delta is here, and I’ve received messages from the governors of Akwa Ibom and Rivers. This shows our commitment to rebuilding the party.”
Diri urged the caretaker committee to focus on its assigned responsibilities from the party’s National Working Committee, ensuring the PDP remains strong in the South-South.
