Governor of Bayelsa State, Doune Diri, has vowed that he will not spill blood to retain his office ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

He stated this yesterday, at Ogbolomabiri after assessing the security situation in neighbouring Bassambiri,  Nembe Council of the state.

Men of the police Strategic Weapons and Tactical, SWAT, team and some non-state actors in military camouflage on August 12 invaded Bassambiri community on the orders of the acting Inspector General of Police. Some persons suffered gunshot injuries as a result of the invasion while many others were displaced.

Doune Diri, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, noted that anyone who sacrifices the lives of the people in order to gain political power does not deserve to lead the state.

The governor said: “I will not spill one life to retain my office because every life is important to me. Anyone who wants to be governor should not sacrifice any of you to become governor.

“Bassambiri issues are either political, chieftaincy or economic. Anybody who wants oil company benefits should not sacrifice others to get payment.

You cannot kill yourselves whether you are from Bassambiri, Ogbolomabiri, Brass, or Odioma. You are all Nembe people. You are all Ijaw people. So, I call on the Nembe-Se Congress to do more in uniting the people of Nembe.

“As a government, we will continue to do what we are doing to unite the people and to develop the area.

“That is why your government started the very big Nembe-Brass road project, which is a Federal Government road.”

The governorship election is scheduled for next two month, November 11, 2023.