The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike was conspicuously absent as his supporters under the aegis of The New Associates launched the Bayelsa State chapter in Yenagoa on Saturday.
The event had generated a lot of controversy following the disapproval of the event by the state government, citing security concerns.
However, the lead promoter of the event, Alabo George Turnah had insisted on holding the rally and had fixed the launching on April 12, 2025, before it was postponed to April 26, 2025.
On Friday, the Reformed Egbesu Assembly warned the promoters of the political group not to hold the rally and threatened to return fire for fire should they spite the governor who had ordered that the rally should mot hold.
On Saturday however, the organizers of the rally took the event to the Church of God Mission Camp in Igbogene, Yenagoa.
Before the event started, gunmen suspected to be political thugs emerged from the creeks and nearby bushes, and started shooting sporadically forcing the attendees to scamper for safety
It took the combined security personnel from the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) to force the hoodlums to retreat.
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Speaking shortly after the incident, the Secretary of the New Associates and former spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Mr. Ebilade Ekerefe, accused the state government of trying to disrupt their peaceful rally in solidarity with President Bola Tinubu.
He said they decided to hold the rally to appreciate President Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters of the state into positions of responsibility in his government, wondering why anybody should feel threatened with a peaceful rally.
Also, the immediate past Commissioner for Health in Bayelsa State, Dr. Pabara Igwele, described the rally as a peaceful one, adding that anybody trying to cause panic is doing so for political reasons.
The rally however went on as Wike’s supporters regrouped after the shooting incident and inaugurated the Bayelsa chapter of the New Associates Political Support Group.
Speaking to the supporters, George Turnah, commended the crowd for their resilience in defiance of Governor Douye Diri’s directive to government officials to decline approval for the rally in any government facility in Yenagoa.
“The turn out is an indication of our acceptability and gratitude of Ijaws people to Mr. President who ensured that Bayelsa retains vital positions in his administration.
“Even though Bayelsa produced the minister of state for petroleum in the last administration, President Tinubu gave it back to us, the same with the NDDC and so many other appointments which were all facilitated by our patron, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“We are using the inauguration of the New Associates simply to appreciate Mr. President for supporting Bayelsa and we expect Gov. Diri, who we supported for his re-election to reciprocate the support,” Turnah said.
Turnah commended Wike for his resolve to collaborate with President Tinubu for rapid development of the Niger Delta region.
