A social rights group, Bayelsa Coalition For Good
Governance and Accountability, on Tuesday dragged the candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri, in the November 16 governorship
election before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over alleged failure to
declare his assets as a public officer.
Diri, who emerged the standard-bearer of the PDP in
the forthcoming election in the state, had scored 561 votes in the party's primary election held last month to defeat his closest rival, Timi Alaibe, who
scored 365 votes.
However, the group, which is seeking the
disqualification of the PDP candidate over alleged breach of the law that
guides the conduct of public officers, specifically claimed that Diri did not declare his assets as Chief of
Staff and Principal Executive Secretary to the
Governor of Bayelsa State between 2012 and 2015.
The group's position was contained in a statement
made available to journalists which was signed by its Executive Director,
Joseph Ambakederimo.
Part of the statement read: "It has been
established by our investigation and available records which show that no
declaration was made by Diri when he was appointed as Chief of Staff and
Principal Executive Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State between 2012 and
2015.
"During the period, he failed, refused or neglected
to comply with the law obliging him to declare his assets to the CCB as a
public officer.
"One of the implications for noncompliance
with the CCB among others, if found to have contravened the law, is disqualification
from holding any public office for a period not exceeding 10 years."
Ambakederimo disclosed that the group chose to
petition the CCB because the office of governor is a high office to be occupied
by persons of impeccable character.
While claiming that the group and the people of
Bayelsa would not want "to benefit from a corrupt system,"
Ambakederimo said they cannot afford to "look the other way while such a
man who neglected a simple task as Chief of Staff comes to the high office of a
governor.
"What we expect from anyone who intends to
become the governor of Bayelsa State is to respect transparency, probity and
accountability, and must be seen to be above board and abide by the rule of law
at all times. Leadership must be held accountable. No one is above the law.
"Deliberately circumventing due process
confirms the intention to be corrupt and sustain a corrupt system.
"Senator Diri's conduct is a violation of the
law, so our goal is to pursue and ensure that good governance is entrenched in
Bayelsa State."
They, therefore, called on the CCB Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT) to interrogate the appropriateness of Diri for the high office
of a governor in the light of this alleged revelation.
They also urged relevant agencies of the government,
the courts and the media not to politicise the issue, adding that the CCB
should expedite action on their petition.
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