The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South zonal secretary, George Turnah, has told Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, that there is no intention to cause crisis in the state in a proposed rally to drum support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike.

Turnah dismissed the security concerns raised by Diri describing it as baseless.

He also defended his association with Wike, saying “there is a right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly in Nigeria”.

Diri had during a recent meeting with Bayelsa Elders raised the alarm that the proposed rally organised by the Wike’s political movement, The New Associates, in Yenagoa was part of the plan to instigate chaos in Bayelsa.   

 But Turnah  in a statement by his Media Assistant, Kelvin Loveday, expressed disappointment over Diri’s outburst, insisting that there was no intention to destabilise Bayelsa.

 He assured the Ijaw nation of his respect, loyalty, and commitment as an Ijaw man, stressing that his political group was only interested in mobilising support for President Tinubu’s administration in the Southsouth Zone without ulterior motives.

He explained that  the New Associates would be officially launched in Bayelsa on April 12, 2025, adding that arrangements had been concluded to ensure a hitch-free outing, including formal notifications to relevant security organizations in the state as required by law.

Turnah kicked against the undue politicisation of the proposed rally, maintaining that ethnicity had no place in politics.

 On his election as the PDP Zonal Secretary, he queried why it was problematic if he occupied a position meant for a son of the soil of Bayelsa or Ijaw, wondering if he was not qualified to do so. 

Turnah reminded Diri that the Ogbia leaders and elders he asked to call him to order were the same leaders who, in 2019, requested that he should not support the governor’s ambition at the time, a request he respectfully ignored.

“I am not only a member of the PDP but also a serving Zonal Secretary of the Party in the Southsouth. I don’t know another office the governor is accusing me of occupying if I am truly not a member of the PDP”, he said.

 He further expressed surprise at Diri’s anger over his association with Wike, adding that he had the constitutional right to freedom of association.

Turnah commended Diri on his many achievements and pledged his continued support for the prosperity administration led by the governor.

He called on the teeming youths, women, political class across party lines and all lovers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come out  en-masse, and show their appreciation to the President and FCT Minister for their special love for the Bayelsa State and Ijaw nation.

He said the love was clearly demonstrated through the facilitation and appointment of notable Bayelsans into positions of trust in the renewed hope administration.