Immediately following the resignation of the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri from the PDP, I have received a number of calls and messages on the issue. While majority of them wanted to know my opinions, a few of them did so to mock me owing to my opinion about the APC. There as actually no need for the mockery. In politics, it is right to point out the dirt in the eyes of others. That was what I did.
Let me begin with what “sunny side” means. Literally, it is the part of anything—a house, a street, or an object—that faces the sun and gets the most light. Figuratively, it speaks to the positive angle or benefits of a situation.
The resignation of the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday 15th October, 2025 was greeted with mixed feelings. While majority of major stakeholders endorsed the governor’s move, a prominent minority chose to remain with the PDP. Multi-party tradition is the bedrock and beauty of democracy.
In any healthy democracy, there are always two main camps: the mainstream, which is the ruling party, and the opposition, which consists of those outside government. In federal nations like Nigeria, multiple tiers of government make the situation even more complex—a political party can lead at the state level but be in opposition federally. Until this resignation, Bayelsa State fell into this dimensional setting, but Diri’s exit, along with most of the State House of Assembly, has changed the political landscape.
No doubt, politics is dynamic. While Section 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) guarantees right of freedom of thought and conscience, Section 40 guarantees freedom of association. All of these have made a Nigerian citizen belonging to any registered political party of choice a lawful choice. In view of the above constitutional provisions, Senator Douye Diri’s choice of leaving the PDP and eventually joining any political party of his choice is permissible recognized in the eyes of the law. What about in the eyes of public opinion? This is the crux of this piece. A community’s progress is often linked to the quality of its leadership. A capable leader makes decisions that steer society toward development. It is often echoed, both openly and privately, that Senator Diri has led with distinction above the average in Bayelsa. That goodwill means many citizens trust his judgment and are likely to follow his lead.
Nigeria’s fiscal policies often favour the federal government, forcing many states to depend on Abuja for major projects. Unfortunately, the uneven spread of federal projects has meant that states led by opposition parties need extra political capital to attract development. Relationships at the federal level sometimes matter as much as merit.
When viewed from a wider perspective, the governor’s decision is pragmatic. It is a chance to bring greater opportunities and development—figuratively, it puts the state “on the sunny side.” Projects like the Nembe-Brass road are already underway, and new ones may follow.
In politics, diversity has its advantages. Those who spread their interests across multiple platforms often fare better. While the PDP maintained dominance in both Bayelsa and Abuja for years, some Bayelsans worked quietly through the APC.
Before criticising Senator Diri’s choice, consider what Bayelsa would have faced if no leaders had forged links with the APC when they were out of power in Abuja. Thanks to balanced strategies, figures like Timipre Sylva, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku have remained to take what belongs to Bayelsa State.
There is no need for despair. Diri’s resignation does not spell doom for Bayelsa. Let some prominent Bayelsans stay in the PDP; no one can predict what the future holds. This way—win or lose—Bayelsa remains represented. It may also be wise for Bayelsans to take up key positions in parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC), spreading their influence even further.