By Tapre Timine, Bayelsa
The South-South Zonal Secretary of Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, has issued a warning about threats to his life, which he claims have escalated following his plans to organise a rally in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Bayelsa State.
In a letter addressed to President Tinubu, titled “My Life and That of My Family in Grave Danger, We Need Protection,” Turnah expressed concerns over his safety and that of his family. He alleges that the threats are connected to his ongoing political fallout with Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
According to Turnah, tensions increased after he distanced himself from Diri upon learning of the governor’s alleged involvement in efforts to form a coalition aimed at unseating Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reaffirming his political stance, the PDP leader called for fairness and justice, arguing that President Tinubu should be allowed to complete the South’s eight-year term in power, just as former President Muhammadu Buhari did for the North.
He also announced his alignment with the political movement known as The NEW Associates, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The group, described as grassroots-driven and staunchly pro-Tinubu, has been mobilising support for the President by drawing attention to his achievements.
The Bayelsa chapter of The NEW Associates is set for its formal inauguration on 12 April, which will be marked by a large-scale rally in Yenagoa.
Turnah stated that the event is aimed at expressing appreciation for President Tinubu’s contributions to Bayelsa and the broader Niger Delta region, particularly the appointment of Bayelsans to key national roles.
Turnah, who previously served as Executive Assistant on Public Affairs and Social Orientation to a Bayelsa Governor, claimed that Governor Diri publicly denounced him during meetings of the State Security Council and Bayelsa Elders Forum.
He alleged that he was labelled “an enemy of Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation” for daring to organise a rally in honour of President Tinubu and the FCT Minister on Ijaw land.
Despite holding a press conference to clarify his intentions behind the rally and reaffirm his loyalty to President Tinubu’s vision for Bayelsa, Turnah insists that threats against him have only increased.
He said, “I have faced threats to my life from supporters of Governor Douye Diri. A supporter of the governor openly boasted in a Facebook post that my actions were ‘a death trap.’ This is a clear indication of an assassination plot by the Diri administration, especially since the administration has not condemned such a statement from a supporter.”
As a result, Turnah said he and his family have fled their home in Yenagoa and are now seeking refuge in an undisclosed hotel.
“Since this threatening incident, my family and I have moved out of our home in Yenagoa and are currently taking refuge in an undisclosed hotel. We do not have the financial means to sustain this lifestyle or afford the services of security guards.
“The situation is taking a toll on the mental health of my wife and children. Therefore, I urgently appeal for your intervention and protection for myself and my family,” he added.
In his letter to the President, Turnah appealed for swift intervention and protection, warning that political differences within the PDP must not be allowed to escalate into violence.
Turnah said, “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 vital that leaders can express their beliefs without the fear of intimidation and violence.
