By Chiemeka Green, Yenagoa
The flag bearer of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri was billed to appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau on Monday October 14, 2019 in response to a summon served him over a petition filed by an anti-corruption group, Bayelsa Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability on his refusal to declare his assets between 2012 and 2013.
He was expected to be grilled over the petition which alleged that between 2012 and 2013 when Senator Douye Diri was the deputy chief of staff at the Bayelsa State Government House, and principal executive secretary to Governor Seriake Dickson between 2013 and 2014 and refusing to comply with the law obligating him to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as a public officer.
It was gathered that the PDP flag bearer, Sen. Douye Diri, was served the CCB summons through the clerk of the National Assembly for, allegedly evading service. “We sent the service to his governorship campaign office but no one accepted it and it was sent through the Clerk of the National Assembly and served.”
Confirming the development in a chat with newsmen, the executive director of the Bayelsa Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability, Mr. Joseph Ambakederemo, who filed the petition, said the appearance of Sen. Douye Diri is a response to the petition. “Yes he is appearing before the Bureau on Monday. We have appeared to defend our petition.”
Ambakaderemo, who denied being used by any politician or political groups in the state, said the petition was based on the need to instill the spirit of accountability and good governance in the state, “We are out to ensure that the right things are done; to ensure that we instill rule of law and good governance in Bayelsa State. Nobody is sponsoring our group and every successive administration knows my pedigree,” he stated.
He also noted that those faulting the petition based on improper timing with the governorship poll close are ignorant. “There is no proper time to raise such issue on rule of law and corruption. It is only proper and timely that we brought it to the public domain.
“At the end, it will be clear to those in government that they would be accountable and that they will face scrutiny at the end. That was why the former Delta State governor, Onanefe Ibori when he finished as a governor, corruption charges were brought against him. If a man does not declare his assets he is not fit to be a governor. To be a governor, you would have gone through thorough investigation.”
Ambakaderemo alleged that since the group filed the petition against Sen. Douye Diri at the Code of Conduct Bureau, there have been series of death threats issued against them on phone. “Many of our members are being threatened daily. We are putting up a petition to the Inspector-General of Police over the threats to our lives.”
