Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have pushed back against Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s opposition to their planned rally, insisting it will proceed as scheduled.
Governor Diri, during a meeting with Bayelsa elders and security agencies on Wednesday, expressed concerns that the rally could lead to violence and urged security agencies to prevent any gathering that might threaten peace and stability in the state.
However, in response, George Turnah, the South-South Zonal Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and lead promoter of the rally, dismissed the governor’s concerns.
In a statement issued on his behalf by his media assistant, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, Turnah stated that preparations for the event were in full swing and would not be halted.
Turnah expressed surprise at the governor’s stance, emphasizing that politics should not be defined by ethnicity.
He reaffirmed that the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly are guaranteed by the constitution.
According to him, the rally is designed to show solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Dismissing claims that he was working with a former governor to destabilize the state, Turnah clarified that he leads a grassroots political movement called New Associates, which is focused on mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s administration in the South-South region without any hidden agenda.
A promotional flyer obtained by DAILY GAZETTE in Yenagoa revealed that several high-profile figures, including Wike, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Chief Samuel Ogbuku, are expected to attend the rally.
“The organization is set to officially launch in Bayelsa on April 12, 2025, and the arrangements are in top gear to ensure a hitch-free outing, including formal notifications to relevant security organizations in the state as required by law,” Turnah said.
He also addressed Governor Diri’s comments about Ogbia leaders and elders calling him to order, reminding the governor that these were the same leaders who, in 2019, advised him against supporting Diri’s candidacy—a request he had chosen to ignore.
“I am not only a member of the PDP but also a serving Zonal Secretary of the Party in the South-South. I wonder which other office the governor was accusing me of occupying if I am not a member of the PDP,” he stated.
Turnah expressed concern over the governor’s displeasure regarding his political association with Wike, reiterating his constitutional right to make personal political choices. He noted that this was not the first time he had made independent political decisions.
While acknowledging that the disagreements within the PDP in Bayelsa remain internal party matters, Turnah expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved in due time.
Despite the current tension, he commended Governor Diri’s achievements and assured him of continued support for his administration’s prosperity agenda.
Turnah also urged youths, women, and political figures across party lines, as well as supporters of President Tinubu, to attend the rally en masse to express their appreciation for the president and Wike’s contributions to Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.
