2023 Polls: ‘Extreme Hunger’ In Bayelsa Under Diri’s Govt – Gov’s Aide Cries Out, Dumps PDP For APC

Charles Kurobo, a Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Special Duties, and the leader of the Niger Delta Ex-agitators’ Leadership Forum, First Phase, Bayelsa State Chapter, has dumped Governor Douye Diri’s camp and join the All Progressive Congress (APC).

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that Kurobo hinged his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) camp primarily to “extreme hunger” under the Diri’s administration.

Kurobo, expressed his return to the APC as a necessity to avoid starvation as a political appointee under the current Governor.

He felt compelled to be honest about his situation, as his family and those who depend on him have lost confidence in his ability to provide, despite his position within the Diri administration.

“My position as a serving SSA to the Governor on special duties, is supposed to have a positive impact on the lives of those around me especially my immediate family but unfortunately, recharging my phone for effective communication would have been a great challenge if not for the timely intervention of other Critical stakeholders from our Niger Delta region.

“It is such a pity that with the level of hunger and starvation deliberately created by His Excellency the Governor, Senator Douye Diri, the administration still muster courage to garner the kind of support I see and perceive from some Bayelsans!

“Does it mean we have not learnt enough? Or are we yet to understand that we will be heading into another four years of real hardship which will be worse than what we are currently experiencing or even more? Where is our scenes of pride?.

“We have never been a myopic set of people, will never be and should not be seen as such and that is why I want Bayelsa State and it’s people to know that the way to go is not Senator Diri’s direction.

“If we must survive and develop ourselves to survive and succeed as a people. We may have made mistakes with choices in the past but that’s normal because we are humans and our ability to learn from the past mistakes helps us redirect our present and guide us to determine our future and the prospective development of our State and it’s people.”

“I don’t want anyone to begin to wonder why I will come out to openly challenge and criticize an administration that I am seen to be a part of because I will obviously be seen as not being favored, Yes, I admit and to such blunt fact that all those bearing political appointees under the Douye Diri led government of Bayelsa, from the SA’s, Technical SA’s, to the SSA‘s like myself are just bearing such titles for the fun of it because there’s nothing to show for it. No one of us is being favored and we are all just dying in silence.”

Kurobo lamented that his role, which should have contributed positively to those around him, has been hampered by the difficult conditions, to the point where even charging his phone became a challenge.

He critiqued the Diri administration’s attitude towards the rising hunger and deprivation in the state, even as it garnered support from some Bayelsans.

Kurobo argued that the people of Bayelsa State should not follow Diri’s direction if they wish to thrive and progress. He admitted that past mistakes have been made, but emphasized the importance of learning from these errors to improve the future of the state and its people.

Kurobo criticized the current administration for failing to favour its political appointees, declaring that they are merely bearing titles without any tangible benefits. He challenged any appointee or individual whose life has improved under the Diri administration to come forward and prove him wrong.

He said, “I sometimes imagine, if it weren’t for the opportunity given me by our Niger Delta Critical stakeholders, where would I have been? What would have been the condition and state of my immediate family? Would my children have been able to go to school?

“Would I have been able to look at my wife and have her proudly address me as her husband, an SSA to the governor yet can’t afford to provide basic needs for his family’s upkeep?

“I imagine the state of those who are not as privileged as I am and how they are managing with their families to survive as Political Appointees. Well, I give thanks to GOD Almighty for the low crime rate in the state because it could have been terrible.”

“It is like there’s no government in place under Douye Diri. Bayelsa has suddenly become an unkept garden under the current administration and I say this authoritatively as an SSA to the governor on Special Duties, Bayelsa state Government, that the worst we’ve seen, since the creation of Bayelsa State is what is staring directly back at us today”.

Expressing gratitude for the support he received from Niger Delta stakeholders, Kurobo pondered the state of his family had he not been given this opportunity. He questioned the living conditions of less privileged political appointees and their families and expressed relief at the low crime rate within the state despite these hardships.

Kurobo described the current state of Bayelsa under the Diri administration as akin to an “unkept garden,” and encouraged Bayelsans to align with the Sylva/MacIver campaign. He urged them to view their support for the Sylva/Miciver mandate not just as a standard election but as a political revolution to bring about good governance, equity, and empowerment for all.

Kurobo called on eligible voters in the state to ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote out the Diri-led PDP by November 11. He urged all Bayelsans to rise to the occasion and support the return of Chief Timipre Sylva in the November 11 elections.