Sen. Diri again turns down CCB invitation

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the Bayelsa November gubernatorial election, Sen. Douye Diri has again failed to honour the invitation of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for the third time.

Sen. Diri was scheduled to appear on Wednesday, October 23rd, to meet with the panel investigating allegations that he failed to declare his assets between 2012 to 2014 when he was deputy chief of staff to the Bayelsa State governor.

Sources close to Sen. Diri’s governorship campaign claim the senator campaigned on Wednesday in Ogbia, the home town of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“My brother, we feel that the message we have for Bayelsa people is more important than this CCB matter. We will handle it later, ” the source told our reporter.

There are also allegations that some top officials of the Code Of Conduct Bureau may have been compromised. According to some CCB sources, the head of the panel set up to investigate Sen. Diri has come under tremendous pressure.

The petitioners accused him of “foot dragging” while the Diri camp accused him of leaking confidential information to the press.

A source close to Joseph Ambakederimo said the civil rights activist is feeling frustrated by the lackadaisical attitude of CCB concerning his petition. “Why is it difficult to investigate and if possible prosecute Sen. Douye Diri,” the source asked.

In a statement to Elendu Reports Joseph Ambakederimo said: “If for the third time the PDP candidate for the Bayelsa Governorship election Senator Douye Diri has deliberately refused to honour the CCB invitation to defend the allegations of non-eclaration of assets and false declaration of assets, it’s a grave disrespect for the rule of law and constituted authority.

“Therefore the CCB should do the needful as Senator Diri is not above the law and he cannot continue to hold the CCB to ransome…I call on the CCB to stand up to their responsibilities and carry out their mandate without fear or favour and there should be no cover up.

“The pertinent question to ask is what is Senator Douye Diri hiding that he has deliberately refused to appear before the CCB? This is an insult to the sensibilities of not only the Bayelsa people who are yearning for good governance but to the entire Nigerian state.”