Bayelsa State Governor, Sena­tor Douye Diri, has said Peo­ples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in the state would support any presidential as­pirant of the party that will restructure Nigeria if elected.

Senator Diri spoke on Fri­day when he received former Senate President and presiden­tial aspirant, Senator Bukola Saraki, in Government House, Yenagoa.

Governor Diri noted that as an oil and gas producing state, which contributes huge reve­nue to the country’s economy, restructuring would ensure eq­uity and fairness to the oil-pro­ducing Niger Delta region, the state and the Ijaw nation in particular.

The governor said the Fed­eral Government, as presently constituted, does not encourage productivity and competitive­ness. Rather, he said, it turns the federating units to beggars where states go cap in hand to Abuja on monthly basis for rev­enue sharing.

He said there is too much concentration of power at the centre, which has prevented the country from functioning effec­tively, adding that devolution of power would enable states to de­velop at their own pace.

The Bayelsa helmsman re­stated his call on aspirants to place the interest of the party and country above their ambi­tion, saying that as an opposi­tion party, what is required to wrest power from the ruling party and rescue the country from total collapse is unity among members.

Diri stressed that only the PDP is capable of tackling the challenges facing Nigeria and restore it to the path of growth and honour it was known for.

He said the former Senate President had the credentials to govern the country considering the experience he had garnered from serving in different capac­ities over the years.

His words: “You talked about certain things that touch us as a state. You talked about the restructuring of this country. The Ijaws have always talked about justice and equity. As a state that produces oil and gas, which have been the mainstay of our economy, we subscribe to any aspirant that has included restructuring of this country in his manifesto, to ensure equity and justice.

“The federal government is too centralised and nothing will work. Certain powers have to be devolved to the states and let the Federal Government face only common issues that are central to all of us. So this blame game of previous government will stop.

“Let us go back to the foun­dation of this country where we had regions that took responsi­bility for their economy and pol­icies. Allow the states to carry some of the responsibility.

“The present structure does not make room for productiv­ity and competition among our states. State governments go cap in hand to our Federal Capital Territory in the name of federal allocation.”

Governor Diri also stated that despite being a believer and advocate of power shift and zoning, he had accepted the decision of the party to allow aspirants from all parts of the country to vie for the presidency and would work to ensure that a candidate that represents the interest of the party and country emerges.

Earlier, Senator Saraki said Nigeria was moving towards becoming a failed state in terms of security and its poor econo­my and needs a competent per­son to reverse the drift.

According to the former Kwara State governor, having served in different capacities, he has the experience both from the private and public sectors to lead the country out of its near state of collapse.

He said he is bold and can spearhead restructuring of the country if elected as president in the 2023 election.

While lamenting the disuni­ty among Nigerians, he said he would be the bridge to unite the north and the south, young and old as well as Christians and Muslims.