I refused to do rituals before I became Governor – Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, revealed he refused to perform rituals before his election, attributing his success to his strong faith in God, which earned him the nickname “miracle governor.”

This was stated by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Saturday. Speaking at the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Annual Day of Thanksgiving, Diri recounted an instance when he was urged in Abuja to perform rituals to secure his governorship. He declined, despite contesting the declaration of the APC candidate as the winner of the November 2019 election, a case then pending at the Supreme Court.

He said, “I thank God and also thank Apostle David Zilly Aggrey because he started this event. And because his prayers were heard, God made it possible to bring me in, and today, it is by law that all Kolokuma/Opokuma people can gather to praise God.

“Let me reveal to you why it is important to thank God and have faith in Him. Sometimes ago, a senior citizen of this country invited me to Abuja and asked me to perform certain sacrifices, but I declined. I told him my faith in God would not allow me to do it. He got angry and told me I would never become governor.

“He told me that he had spent $10,000 to bring the people for the sacrifice and asked for a refund, which I obliged.

“When the Supreme Court’s pronouncement came, the man was shocked and could not call me. Sadly, he passed on after some time.

“The story I have narrated was witnessed by my deputy and a friend in Abuja as both of them accompanied me to visit the senior citizen.

“Kolokuma/Opokuma people have every reason to thank God. As a state, we do not want anybody to be harmed in the name of politics because we do not know who God has destined for greatness.

“So I call on all of us in the political game to be very civil and recognise that there is God who rules in the affairs of man.”