Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has warned his appointees to stop politicking or get fired.
The Governor’s warning comes against the backdrop of the various political activities in the state ahead of the 2027 election.
He said that engaging in political activities when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not released election guidelines was in breach of the Electoral Act.
Governor Diri gave the warning on Wednesday during the meeting of the state executive council in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He affirmed his resolve to sack any of his appointees found engaging in political activities before INEC’s whistle.
According to him, engaging in political activities at this time could heat up the polity, stressing that interested participants must wait for INEC to release the guidelines.
The governor said he remained focused on delivering on the mandate given him by the people and that he would not entertain distractions.
He urged the people to engage in other profitable ventures rather than politicking when it was not yet time to do so.
“I would like to advise politicians to follow the guidelines of political activities as enunciated by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Even the Bible tells us that there is time for everything.
“This is the time for governance, and we have started hearing public statements on the radio about who was contesting for one office or the other.
“I advise all of us to refrain from politicking and wait for INEC’s guidelines, particularly for political appointees. If you want to heat the polity, please resign.
“Going forward, any political appointee who goes on air to talk about 2027 politics will be sacked.
“Any political appointee, no matter their office, who does political activities when it is not yet time, and it is brought to my knowledge, consider yourself sacked,” Diri said.
Continuing, he said, “Elections are in 2027, but some people want to play God when they do not even know if they will see 2027. I am not praying for anybody’s death.”
