PROFILE: Douye Diri, Jonathan’s ‘Boy’, Now Bayelsa Governor-elect

A former commissioner for youths and sports during Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure as Bayelsa governor, Douye Diri, has toed the judicial route to become the governor-elect of the state.

Diri was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa.

The 60-year-old was the senator representing Bayelsa Central senatorial district of Bayelsa state at the Nigerian 9th Senate.

His sudden promotion as the governor-elect of Bayelsa state came after the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld his election on the grounds that the running-mate to the earlier declared winner of the election, David Lyon, submitted fake certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The electoral body is expected to withdraw the certificate of return earlier issued to Lyon and issue a fresh one to Diri on Friday (today), February 14, 2020.

Diri hails from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Education

Diri started his education at Okoro Primary School Sampou and moved on to Rev. Proctor Memorial Primary School Kaima where he earned his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1977.

He obtained his West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) certificate from the Government Secondary School, Odi in 1981.

Diri attended the College of Education in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, where he obtained his Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1985.

He later attended the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, and obtained his Bachelor of Education degree in Political Science in 1990.

Career

Before joining politics, Diri taught at several government schools in the Old Rivers State.

He is the First National Organizing Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the foremost organization of the Ijaw Nation.

He was also appointed Executive Secretary, Centre for Youth Development in Bayelsa State from 2000 to 2002 during the tenure of the First Executive Governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

He was later appointed as Commissioner for Youth and Sports 2005/2006 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration in Bayelsa State.

Diri served as the governing council board member of the University of Maiduguri from 200 to 2012.

He equally served as the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Disciplinary Council, Bayelsa State in 2012.

He was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House from August 2012 and a year later was appointed as Principal Executive Secretary, a position he held until he signed in 2014 to contest for the Federal House of Representatives to represent kolokuma, Opokuma, and Yenagoa Federal Constituency. He won the election in 2015. His legislative interests are in environment and communications.