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By Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The South-South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, has denied allegations that he betrayed Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on his election as the party’s zonal scribe.
Turnah was elected zonal secretary at the controversial PDP South-South zonal congress in Calabar, Cross River State, replacing fellow Bayelsan, Chief Felix Omemu.
However, during the PDP State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Yenagoa on Monday, the Chief Whip of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Gabriel Ogbara (Ogbia Constituency 3), publicly apologised to Governor Diri on behalf of the Ogbia people, stating that it was “not in the character of Ogbia people to betray their benefactors.”
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In a swift response, Turnah, through his media assistant, Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, condemned Ogbara’s apology as hypocritical and unwarranted.
He maintained that he had done nothing to warrant an apology to the governor and has never harboured any grievance against him. Instead, he reaffirmed his unwavering support for Diri’s political journey, including his 2019 gubernatorial election and his re-election in 2023.
“I supported the Governor in both his first and second-term elections and upheld my integrity as the PDP agent in Gobi LGA during the last election. I did everything necessary to support Governor Diri when it mattered most. At this point, I have nothing left to contribute or offer to the Governor, so notions of betrayal are baseless. In fact, I feel I am the one being betrayed,” he stated.
Turnah further cautioned Ogbara against using his name to curry favour from the governor. He stressed that Ogbara should pursue his political ambitions independently, including his rumoured third-term bid in the House of Assembly, without dragging his name into the political fray.
