How I lost $10,000 on rituals to become Governor – Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has disclosed that his unwavering faith in God earned him the title “Miracle Governor,” as he rejected an offer to perform voodoo rituals in his bid to become governor in 2020.

Speaking during the KOLGA (Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area) Annual Day of Thanksgiving in Sampou on Friday, Diri recounted a pivotal moment in 2020 when a senior Nigerian figure advised him to resort to spiritual rituals while challenging the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory at the November 2019 governorship poll, a case pending before the Supreme Court at the time.

The governor revealed that the individual had flown in marabouts from Senegal to Abuja for the rituals. However, Diri declined, citing his absolute trust in God.

He recounted:
“When I refused to go through with the rituals, the individual demanded a refund of the money spent on bringing the marabouts to Nigeria. I had to pay him $10,000 to settle the matter.”

Governor Diri stressed the importance of politicians placing their faith in God rather than in human schemes, saying his victory in the Supreme Court was a testament to divine faithfulness.

He further expressed gratitude for the developments in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, commending the council for legally institutionalizing the Thanksgiving Day.

His words: “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. Some time 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.”

In his welcome address, the chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Tariye Lelei, said people of the area have reason to thank God for the gift of a governor.

He said it was in recognition of the goodness of God in their lives that the local government passed legislation legalising thanksgiving on January 17 annually.

In his sermon, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey said the younger generation might not understand the reason for the thanksgiving as they did not experience the difficulty older ones in the local government faced and said if they do not thank God for what He had done for them, they could be regarded as ingrates.

He said Bayelsa was witnessing tremendous development under Diri and thanked the people of the state for giving him the opportunity to serve a second term.

At the event were the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; state lawmakers, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei; the Head of Service, Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema; Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe; his deputy, Irorodamie Komonibo, and members of the state executive council.

Others were a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief (Mrs.) Remi Kuku; the state PDP chairman, Solomon Agwana; and members of his exco, local government chairmen, the Ibedaowei of Kolokuma Kingdom, King Onya Mozi Agara, other traditional rulers, KOLGA elders and top government officials.