2027: Governor Diri Should Declare His Stand:Turnah

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George Turnah, the lead Convener of the New Associates, a Pro Wike Group I'm Bayelsa State, has called on the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri to declare his stand ahead of 2027 Presidential Election.

Speaking on Saturday in Yenagoa during a rally which he said was meant to  thank President Bola Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters of the Niger Delta and Nyesom Wike for his recommendation, he said that if Governor Diri is supporting President Tinubu, he should make it open.

"I want to formally call on Governor Douye Diri to immediately announce his stand as regards 2027 presidency, so that Bayelsans can know where they stand.  If he is supporting President Tinubu,he should come out and tell us but if he wants to align with other vacancies, let him tell us. 

"Then we will know whether we will follow him to align or not, the leader that openly says he will support President Tinubu is Nyesom Wike. If our governor comes tomorrow and says  it is Tinubu, we will work with  him and if he says he  is not supporting President Tinubu, we will galvanize support for President Tinubu to deliver him."

Turnah, who also serves as the Zonal Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South Zone and the current Acting Chairman of the PDP in Bayelsa State, said that almost all the South South Governors are supporting Tinubu, saying it's only Bayelsa that is  remaining.

Expressing  disappointed  because of the actions of some Bayelsans whom he claimed were  sent to shoot at fellow Ijaw people, he described the act as barbaric, asking, how can an Ijaw man send gunmen to kill his fellow brothers and sisters?

Turnah said:" In  2019, the Southern Governors met in Asaba and agreed that power should come back to the South, but some people after they had agreed decided to do another thing, but in all, Tinubu from Southern Nigeria became president.

"Now, Tinubu is not from my Party PDP but before we can get PDP party together, we should first of all get Nigeria. Once a leader is elected, he becomes the president of Nigeria and we are suppose to support our leader.

According to Turnah, "Oppositions is not to plot for leaders to fail because if a leader succeeds, it will benefit the people but  if he fails, the people will suffer. 

"Oppositions is to uphold leaders to deliver for the people. If oppositions discover that the leaders are  doing well, they should not be in a hurry to change him.  For PDP when the times come we will take our decision."

Speaking  on the need to support President Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike for  recommending and appointing Bayelsans into key offices including the ongoing East/West road, he said "this Tinubu has delivered us,  he is  a friend that is better  than a brother. We will  also support Wike."

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the occasion Roland Sekibo said, the New Associates  group has come to stay appealing to Bayelsans to be part of the movement.

"I have not seen any man that has done much for Ijaw people like Wike especially in Rivers state. He made it possible in the fourth republic to make sure an Ijaw man becomes the governor of Rivers state. I commend President Tinubu and Nyesom Wike for recommending and appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key offices."

Also speaking, the Secretary of New  Associates group and former spokesman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC),  Ebilade Ekerefe, had  accused the state government of trying to scatter their peaceful rally, vowing to continue with the programmes of the group.

He said they put up the peaceful rally to appreciate President Bola Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters of the state in positions of responsibilities in his government, wondering why somebody should feel threatened with a peaceful rally.

He said: “How will somebody go after the law abiding citizens of Nigeria, particularly Ijaw youths, who have gathered to associate politically?

"We are not here to cause any trouble, we are here to express our support, solidarity to the President and Commander-in-Chief."

Also, the immediate past Commissioner of Health in Bayelsa State,  Pabara Igwele in his reaction stated the rally was  a peaceful one, that anybody trying to cause panic was doing so for political reason.

After the sporadic shooting to disrupt 

 the rally, the regrouped and   finally inaugurated the body in the state with Wike supporters from Rivers State gracing the occasion.