President Muhammadu Buhari has met with the new governor of Bayelsa state, Senator Duoye Diri, at the presidential villa, Abuja.
The duo met for the first time behind closed doors in the president’s office after which the governor told State House reporters that Buhari expressed delight in the way he had carried on since assumption office February 14 this year.
Diri, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was handed victory by the Supreme Court following inconsistencies in the document presented for nomination by the running mate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Biobarakum Degi-Eremienyo.
The governor, who said he was on a private visit to the president, informed: “Since I resumed as Governor of Bayelsa State, precisely on the 14th of February, I have not come to see the father of the nation.
“Today, I just did that to come and see the father of our country and to work with the Federal Government of Nigeria in ensuring peace and stability in my state and ensuring the development of my state. That is what informed my visit to Mr President today.”
On the kind of reception he Buhari provided for him, Diri stated: “Mr President received me as one of his sons, as a governor of a state and he received me very warmly, I am very satisfied with the reception.
“He went ahead to advise that he was happy that I came and that he was happy with the way I have started. He went on to say he has read about all the statements that I have made and the security so far in Bayelsa.
“He promised as one of his sons, a state like Bayelsa that is critical to the security and peace in the Niger Delta, he was prepared to also work with me.”