Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has warned those planning a mega rally and inauguration of a group loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, that such gathering is capable of igniting crisis in the state. But Wike’s political group said no going back on the planned mega rally in Yenagoa.
The governor who spoke in separate meetings with the Bayelsa Elders Council and at the 37th session of the state security council on Thursday in Yenagoa,
said the planned protest is a plot to breach peace, and warned that the state government would not condone any act that would disrupt the peace of the state.
He stated that holding such event at a time the political crisis in Rivers State had heightened ethnic tensions could degenerate into conflict in neighbouring Bayelsa.
He further stated that the alarm was imperative given that the FCT Minister had “threatened to cause crisis in PDP-governed states”.
He said: “Any attempt to import the Rivers State political crisis into Bayelsa will be resisted. I urge security commanders in the state to be on the alert. Parents and traditional rulers should discourage their wards and children from being used by unscrupulous elements to cause trouble in the state.
“As you are aware, we have threats from our sister state. The political crisis there is threatening us and we will not allow what is happening there to come into Bayelsa State.
“This is not Rivers State. Bayelsa is the cradle of every Ijaw man. I have always said that being peaceful is not cowardice. We are very courageous and we can stand up for the truth at all times.
“Every public facility owned by the Bayelsa State government cannot be used except with the express approval of the state government.” he added.
A grassroots mobilisation group, The New Associates, linked with former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, said that they have concluded plans to hold a mega-rally in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, to drum up support for President Bola Tinubu.
According to the organisers, the mega rally, aside from drumming up support for President Tinubu, is also geared toward expressing appreciation and solidarity with Wike.
The New Associates is a grassroots-based political movement set in motion by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to mobilise grassroots support across the states of the South- South geo-political zone for the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office come 2027.
