Preye Aganaba, executive director of social and human capital development at the South-South Development Commission, has said Bayelsa State stands to benefit from more federal projects if Governor Douye Diri joins the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aganaba made the remark while speaking on Rhythm 94.7 FM in Yenagoa, amid growing speculation that Diri and some of his allies might soon defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
The speculation intensified after Benson Konbowei, the senator representing Bayelsa Central and a close associate of the governor, resigned from the PDP and formally joined the APC.
His resignation was confirmed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read on the floor of the Senate on Thursday.
READ ALSO: Bayelsa APC Chieftain Hails Diri’s Exit from PDP
Aganaba, a founding chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa, said the party was open to receiving Diri and working with him to promote President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
“The kind of impactful leadership and bold reforms led by President Bola Tinubu have unlocked enormous resources for governors to carry out development in their various states,” he said. “It is only natural for those of them who are people-oriented to align with the president.”
He explained that the APC’s national leadership would determine the process and timing for Diri’s official entry into the party, while the state chapter would act according to their guidance.
Aganaba added that closer political alignment between Bayelsa and the federal government could help attract more infrastructure projects to the state.
He also dismissed rumours suggesting that former President Goodluck Jonathan was preparing for a political comeback, describing him instead as “a respected statesman who should focus on mentoring the next generation of leaders.”