The factional Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zone, George Turnah, has strongly refuted claims by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, that he was planning to host the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as part of a scheme to destabilize the state.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Turnah dismissed the allegations as false, reckless, and politically motivated, accusing Governor Diri of orchestrating a campaign of blackmail to discredit him and incite public animosity against his person.
Turnah made it clear that neither he nor any group associated with him had invited Wike to Bayelsa State, insisting that such an event would require proper communication with the state government and security agencies.
“It is shocking and deeply irresponsible that Governor Diri would base his claims on an unverified Facebook post without any attempt to verify the authenticity of the information,” Turnah said.
“This is a reckless attempt to tarnish my image and incite public resentment against me.”
He likened the governor’s accusation to cocking a loaded gun, saying it was designed to destroy his reputation and set him up for public hostility.
Turnah expressed deep disappointment that Governor Diri would publicly discredit him, despite their long-standing political relationship.
He recounted his financial contributions to Diri’s House of Representatives bid in 2015, his active role in securing party support for Diri’s governorship ambition in 2019, and his work as Diri’s polling agent during the 2023 re-election campaign.
“I have stood by Governor Diri through the years, offering both financial and political support, yet today, he refers to me as ‘One George Turnah,’ as though I never mattered,” he lamented.
“This is a classic case of political betrayal.”
Despite being appointed as an executive assistant on Public Affairs during Diri’s first term, Turnah claimed he was largely sidelined and rendered redundant, signaling a deliberate effort to alienate him from the administration.
Turnah also weighed in on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, particularly the conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
He accused Governor Diri and the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, of ethnicizing the issue for political advantage.
According to Turnah, the lack of widespread protests from Ijaw groups following Governor Fubara’s struggles to retain power suggests that Wike’s assertion that political actors would abandon Fubara when the law takes its course was accurate.
“It is Governor Diri and Prof. Okaba who should be held accountable for whatever has happened to Governor Fubara,” Turnah stated.
“They failed to separate political disagreements from ethnic struggles and manipulated the Ijaw identity for political gain.”
He further criticized the Ijaw National Congress (INC) for fueling ethnic tensions in Rivers State, arguing that the Ijaw people should not have been dragged into what was purely a political struggle.
Turnah went further, accusing Governor Diri of diminishing the honor of the Ijaw people by reportedly kneeling before another politician to seek political support.
“In Ijaw land, the Governor of Bayelsa State is regarded as the ‘Governor General’ – a political and cultural leader of the Ijaw people,” Turnah asserted.
“For a man in that position to kneel before another mortal, he has not just humiliated himself, but has disgraced the entire Ijaw nation.”
He contended that true Ijaw leaders never bow to political pressures in this manner, likening the governor’s actions to a symbolic surrender of Ijaw sovereignty.
“This is not just a political issue – it is a cultural and spiritual embarrassment,” he added.
“A leader who kneels for personal ambition has lost the moral authority to govern the Ijaw people.”
Given what he described as Governor Diri’s failure to uphold the dignity of the Ijaw people, Turnah called for his immediate resignation.
“If the Ijaw National Congress (INC) were truly committed to the interests of the Ijaw people, they would have long demanded that Governor Diri resign and apologize for this national disgrace,” he said.
He urged Ijaw elders and political stakeholders to take a firm stand to protect the dignity of the Ijaw people and ensure that their heritage is not compromised for political survival.
“Governor Diri has lost sight of what it means to lead,” Turnah declared.
“He must step aside and seek forgiveness from the Ijaw nation before he does further damage to our collective identity.”
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