March 28, (THEWILL) – The South-South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, has dismissed concerns raised by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, over a proposed mega rally in Yenagoa in support of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Turnah, in a statement issued by his media aide, Kelvin Loveday, described Diri’s claims that the rally was a ploy to instigate crisis in Bayelsa as baseless, insisting that the event is purely a political gathering aimed at mobilizing support for the Tinubu administration.
“The right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly is enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. There is no intention whatsoever to destabilize Bayelsa State,” Turnah stated.
Diri, during a meeting with Bayelsa elders, had expressed concerns over the rally, which is being organized by The New Associates, warning that it could trigger political unrest.
However, Turnah assured the people of Bayelsa, particularly the Ijaw nation, of his commitment to peace and respect for due process.
He explained that the group’s formal launch in Bayelsa is scheduled for April 12, 2025, with all necessary notifications made to security agencies to ensure a peaceful event.
“The undue politicization of this rally is unnecessary. Ethnicity has no place in politics, and our objective remains clear—supporting President Tinubu’s administration in the South-South,” he said.
Addressing concerns about his role in the PDP, Turnah dismissed suggestions that his position as Zonal Secretary was controversial. He questioned why his appointment as a Bayelsa indigene should be an issue, stating that he remains a committed PDP member.
He also reminded Diri that the same Bayelsa elders now being asked to caution him were the ones who, in 2019, requested that he not support Diri’s governorship ambition—an appeal he chose to disregard out of respect.
Turnah expressed surprise at the governor’s criticism of his association with Wike, insisting that he reserves the right to associate with whomever he chooses.
Despite the political disagreements, Turnah commended Diri’s developmental efforts in Bayelsa and pledged continued support for his administration.
He called on youths, women, and political stakeholders across party lines to attend the rally in large numbers to express gratitude to President Tinubu and Minister Wike for their contributions to Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation, particularly through the appointment of notable Bayelsans into key positions in the current administration.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
