Wike’s Supporters Vow to Defy Diri, Proceed With Mega Bayelsa Rally
Nothwithstanding warning of possible breakdown of law.and order, organizers of a rally in support of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have defied the warning of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, vowing to proceed with the event despite concerns of potential violence.
According to reports, Governor Diri had earlier expressed concerns about the rally during a meeting with Bayelsa Elders and Security agencies on Wednesday, citing the potential for violence and breakdown of law and order in the state.
He had urged security agencies and stakeholders to discourage any activity that could lead to unrest.
However, the lead promoter of the rally, George Turnah, South South Zonal Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has responded with a statement, dismissing the governor’s concerns and reaffirming the group’s commitment to holding the rally.
In the statement issued by his Media Assistant, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, Turnah expressed shock over the governor’s comment, stating that ethnicity has no place in politics and that the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly are constitutional.
He emphasized that the rally is planned in solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Turnah also denied allegations of collaborating with a former governor to create instability in the state, stating that he has no intention of politically destabilizing Bayelsa or any other state. Instead, he claimed to lead a grassroots political movement called New Associates, aimed at mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s administration in the South South Zone.
The rally, scheduled to take place on April 12, 2025, is expected to attract prominent Nigerians, including Wike, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, among others.
In a promo flyer obtained by our correspondent, the organizers listed the notable attendees and urged the public to come out and show their appreciation for President Tinubu and Wike’s support for Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.
Turnah reminded Governor Diri that the Ogbia leaders and elders he had asked to call him to order were the same leaders who, in 2019, had requested him not to support the governor’s ambition at the time, a request he had ignored. He also emphasized his constitutional right to freedom of association, noting that this is not the first time he had made personal political choices.
While acknowledging the current disagreement within the PDP in the state as a family affair, Turnah assured that the issues would be resolved in no time. He commended Governor Diri on his achievements and pledged his continued support for the prosperity administration led by the governor.
The development has sparked a heated debate in the state, with some residents expressing concern about the potential for violence, while others have hailed the organizers for standing up to the governor. As the situation unfolds, security agencies are on high alert, and the state is bracing itself for the outcome of the rally.
