1 week Ago By Samuel Ese
The embattled Zonal Secretary of the South-South Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, George Turnah, has written to President Bola Tinubu, alleging a threat to his life by some loyalists of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri. In the open letter he signed, dated April 7, 2025, Turnah appealed to Tinubu for protection for himself and his family. The PDP chieftain said he did not have the financial resources to hire security and had relocated to an undisclosed location with his family.
Turnah has been having a running battle with Diri over his planned mega rally in Yenagoa to honour Tinubu for his development strides. The rally also planned to honour the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a move which was opposed by the state government. Turnah in his open letter, said the threat to his life centred around his planned mega rally in Yenagoa on April 12 to honour Tinubu and Wike.
He alleged that the development resulted in “an ideological disagreement with Governor Diri regarding his involvement in the plot to form a coalition political party ahead of the 2027 elections.” Related News Pro-Wike group insists on holding Bayelsa rally despite court order Tension in Bayelsa PDP as ward leaders reject acting S’South secretary’s suspension PDP suspends South-South zonal secretary Turnah said he wanted Tinubu to remain in office for two terms like his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, a reason he aligned with Wike politically. The letter read, “On March 28, Diri publicly called me out during both the State Security Council and Elders Council meetings, labelling me as an enemy of the state and Ijaw nation for proposing a rally in honour of Mr President and the FCT Minister on Ijaw soil.
“He claimed that this rally is inappropriate because of Mr President’s recent proclamation of state of emergency which saw the suspension of an Ijaw governor from office in Rivers State and further alleged that the FCT minister had insulted Ijaw people, thus suggesting he should not visit, hosted or honoured in Bayelsa State.” He quoted a Facebook post, “Turnah’s actions were a death trap, people should watch how George Turnah will soon be a thing of the past,” alleging an assassination attempt against him. Turnah said in the open letter: “Given the current political climate and increasing tension within our party dynamics, I respectfully urge you to take appropriate measures to ensure my safety and the safety of those who stand with me.
“It is of utmost importance that leaders can express their beliefs without the fear of intimidation or violence.”.
