Bayelsa In Turmoil: Governor Diri Calls For Calm Amid Rising Tensions Before Major Rally

Bayelsa State is currently on high alert due to a planned rally by ‘The New Associates’ group, led by George Turnah, the South-South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The rally, set for April 12, 2025, was initially planned to feature the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, which sparked outrage in the predominantly Ijaw-speaking state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The controversy intensified when organizers released a revised flyer displaying portraits of President Bola Tinubu, Wike, Minister of State for Petroleum Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and NDDC Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, seemingly to calm the situation.

Governor Douye Diri has strongly opposed the rally, warning that it could import the political unrest from neighboring Rivers State into Bayelsa. In a statement, Diri condemned attempts to introduce the political turmoil from Rivers into Bayelsa, stressing that the state would not tolerate such disruptions. He urged security forces to remain vigilant and called on parents and traditional rulers to discourage their children and wards from being involved in any trouble.

In response to the governor’s warning, security agencies in Bayelsa conducted a show of force, patrolling major streets in Yenagoa to reassure residents that security measures were in place to protect lives and property ahead of the rally.

Despite these growing tensions, Turnah and other rally organizers insist that the event will go ahead as planned. Turnah explained that the rally was meant to express gratitude to President Tinubu and Nyesom Wike for appointing Bayelsa indigenes to important government positions. He further emphasized that the event would feature traditional Ijaw cultural performances and be limited to invited guests for security purposes.

Governor Diri reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring peace in Bayelsa while respecting citizens’ rights. He acknowledged the interconnectedness between Bayelsa and Rivers and reiterated that maintaining security in the state was his priority.

However, the rally’s timing has been heavily criticized by figures like Alfred Kemepado, a former Ijaw Youth Council chieftain, who warned that the event could exacerbate tensions, especially following recent inflammatory statements from Wike. Kemepado also dismissed the rally as not merely an expression of gratitude, but as being orchestrated by hidden political forces.

While the rally organizers have the support of some PDP members, concerns about potential clashes and violence remain high as the event approaches.