Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has shared how the political agenda of former President Goodluck Jonathan impacted and nearly derailed his political aspirations before ultimately leading to his rise in the National Assembly.
Speaking at a Service of Songs held in honor of the late Madam Ani-Gunn Rhoda Ikiogha, the mother of Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, former Chief of Staff to the Bayelsa State Government and Commissioner for Agriculture, Governor Diri recalled how his early political career was shaped by the decisions of Jonathan’s administration.
Diri, alongside Chief Ikiogha, were both political protégés of Jonathan before his rise to the presidency.
They initially worked together, but their paths diverged due to differing political interests. The governor explained that, along with his mentor, former Governor Dickson, they had planned to run for Senate and the House of Representatives, with Diri aiming for a Senate seat and Ikiogha seeking a House seat.
However, their ambitions were sidelined by the broader political agenda of Jonathan’s government, which led to tensions between the two.
Diri remarked that it was at this point that their political paths diverged for the first time.
While Jonathan’s agenda overwhelmed their individual plans, it ultimately paved the way for Diri’s election to the House of Representatives in 2015, as the Senate seat was zoned to Yenagoa, leaving Ikiogha without the ticket.
Despite this, Diri acknowledged that Ikiogha played a crucial role in his 2023 re-election, even becoming a target of opposition forces for supporting Diri after switching political camps.
He praised the late Madam Ikiogha for being a strong pillar for her son and the family, and for fostering unity among political associates, even those in opposition.
He described her as a welcoming, supportive figure who left behind a legacy of kindness and strong Christian values.
Former President Jonathan, who attended the service, also paid tribute to the late matriarch, describing her as a mother figure to him and others close to Chief Ikiogha.
He recalled how she had opened her home in Yenagoa to many travelers, particularly from Port Harcourt, during the early days of Bayelsa’s creation.
Jonathan also shared the poignant memory of her deep sadness following the 2015 presidential election loss, recalling how she had starved herself in mourning.
Reflecting on her life, Jonathan expressed gratitude that she lived to the age of 91, emphasizing that her contributions to society would be remembered for years to come.
A sermon delivered by Pastor Amos Tubogbo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God focused on the importance of living a life in accordance with God’s teachings, emphasizing that only such a life would be justified in the end.
Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, the chief mourner, thanked those who supported his family during their time of loss, including Jonathan, the state government, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God community.
He shared that his mother’s burial was being held in line with her wishes, including organizing a church crusade in her honor at the Kpansia Primary School field in Yenagoa.
