Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into Law.
Diri said that signing the bill is President Buhari’s greatest gift to Nigerians in eight years because good election provides the platform for the emergence of good leaders and good governance.
Diri stressed that Buhari only demonstrated his desire to enthrone a thriving democratic system with the signing of the Electoral Act.
Diri spoke while presiding at the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday.
Diri said that the snatching of ballot boxes, thuggery, rigging and violence which have been part of the nations election are gone with the signing of the crucial bill.
He stressed that the Electoral Act has resolved the issue of how credible elections should be conducted in the country.
Diri restated his call on appointees with interest in elective offices to resign to pursue their aspirations or be sacked.
He said that while it is the right of appointees to aspire for elective positions, he would not allow such aspirations to derail the objectives of his government.
He said: “I like to use today’s Executive Council meeting to acknowledge Mr President and thank him for signing the Electoral Act bill into law.
“That has been the bane of our democracy. Elections are the basis of having good governance, of selecting good leaders, and Mr President has demonstrated that he wants democracy to thrive in Nigeria by signing the bill.
“So, on behalf of the Deputy Governor and indeed Bayelsa State, we appreciate Mr President for assenting to that bill.
“If there is one gift that Mr President has given to Nigeria in his whole eight years, this is it.
“We are in a political year and the music has started. The drums are all on. Let me again advise all of us, both members of the state executive council and other appointees, that if you have political ambition, please put in your resignation.
“By the Act, ministers, commissioners or appointees that want to contest have to resign six months to the primaries. That is because you will be distracted if that is what you want to do and the office will suffer.
“If you want to occupy any of these offices, fair and good. Ambition is everybody’s right but do not let our work to suffer, and we will not be pushed to sack any member of cabinet who has worked very well for this government.
