Relief as Pro-Tinubu Group Shifts Today’s Rally in Bayelsa

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The tension surrounding the planned mega rally in Bayelsa by a pro-Tinubu group, The New Associates (TNA), led by the factional Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-south, George Turnah, appeared to have reduced yesterday, after the group decided to defer the political meeting.

The group said it had been prevailed upon by Ijaw leaders to postpone the rally earlier slated for Saturday (today) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, to forestall any crisis that could have arisen.
However, two other political groups, the pro-Diri and pro-Tambuwal, had also fixed rallies for the same time and venue, raising security concerns.

The build-up to the rallies had heightened fears in the state, prompting the Ijaw leaders and notable citizens of the state to intervene by appealing to the New Associates to shelve its rally, it was learnt.
Lead convener and leader of the New Associates in Bayelsa, Turnah, told journalists that the group remains a peaceful organisation dedicated to promoting peace, security, and the wellbeing of all Nigerians, adding that every life, whether that of an Ijaw man or any other Nigerian, is precious and of utmost importance.

According to Turnah, the decision to shift the rally to Saturday, April 26 was in deference to notable leaders and fathers of the Ijaw nation who have, for various reasons, reached out to the group to consider a shift in date.
While commending the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and other leaders of the group for their support, he expressed happiness with the support and enthusiasm the group has attracted in Bayelsa state.

He said: ‘’In light of recent developments, you may recall that several pro-Diri and pro-Tambuwal groups have issued public notices expressing their intentions to hold solidarity rallies in support of their respective leaders, opting to do so on the same date and at the same venue we have chosen for our programme.

“We are inclined to allow them the right and space to hold their events as scheduled, creating an atmosphere that will enable the entire country to witness their capacities and acceptance among the Ijaw people in Bayelsa State.
“As such, we will now hold our inauguration and mega rally on Saturday, 26, April 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. This decision has been made in deference to notable leaders and fathers of the Ijaw nation who have, for various reasons, reached out to us to consider a shift in date.”

Turnah commended the people of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation for what he termed their interest and enthusiasm to be part of the ‘mass movement’ aimed at the liberation of the land and the empowerment of the people.

The rally aimed to drum up support and express solidarity with President Bola Tinubu over what the group characterised as ‘developmental strides’ in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta and thank him for appointing notable Bayelsans into his government, which had massively divided the people.

According to the group, the rally was also to be used as an avenue to inaugurate the Bayelsa state chapter of the associates and appreciate its grand patron, Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State.