Bayelsa Political Crisis: Wike’s Loyalist Accuses Governor Diri’s Supporters Of Plotting To Kill Him

Bayelsa Political Crisis: Wike’s Loyalist Accuses Governor Diri’s Supporters Of Plotting To Kill Him

The South-South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, has raised alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate him and members of his family, accusing loyalists of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri of masterminding the threat………READ MORE 

In a strongly worded letter dated April 7, 2025, and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Turnah claimed his life is in danger due to his political alignment with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Turnah, a known loyalist of Wike, revealed plans to inaugurate the Bayelsa chapter of the “NEW Associates,” a grassroots pro-Tinubu movement, with a major rally scheduled for April 12. He said Governor Diri’s supporters are trying to silence him because of his support for Tinubu and Wike.

According to him, recent meetings of the State Security and Elders Council allegedly branded him an “enemy of the state and the Ijaw nation” for organizing the pro-Tinubu rally. He linked the hostility to the recent political tension in Rivers State, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, an Ijaw man, after Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency.

Turnah further cited a threatening Facebook post by Jonah Paebi, a Diri supporter, who described Turnah’s political move as a “death trap” and ominously warned that he would “soon be a thing of the past.”

Fearing for his safety, Turnah disclosed that he and his family have fled their home and are currently hiding in an undisclosed location. “The situation is taking a toll on the mental health of my wife and children,” he stated, appealing for urgent protection and intervention.

He urged security authorities to guarantee the safety of political actors and uphold their freedom of expression without fear of violence or intimidation.

This fresh political drama adds another layer of controversy to Turnah’s public image. In 2022, he was convicted for corruption during his time as Special Assistant to a former NDDC Managing Director, but avoided jail time by paying a fine.