Turnah tells Diri to focus on governance

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Alabh George Turnah, has urged Governor Douye Diri to prioritise the welfare of residents over political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday after arriving at the Port Harcourt International Airport from Abuja, Turnah said the governor should focus on addressing economic hardship, unemployment and other pressing challenges confronting Bayelsans.

He was reacting to Governor Diri’s recent remark that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for any opposition party to win the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Turnah described the statement as unnecessary, insisting that the outcome of the election would be determined by voters rather than political declarations.

He called on the state government to implement policies that would directly improve residents’ living standards, including the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities, the restoration of bursary awards for students, subsidised healthcare, and measures to reduce transportation costs.

As part of his proposals, Turnah urged the government to recruit 20,000 youths into the Bayelsa Volunteers and Bayelsa Vigilante Service with a monthly stipend of ₦150,000.

He estimated that the initiative would cost about ₦3 billion monthly and argued that the state could finance the programme from its monthly allocations from the Federation Account.

“The challenge before Bayelsa is not the absence of resources but how available funds are prioritised,” he said.

Turnah maintained that government spending should be directed towards programmes that reduce poverty, create jobs and cushion the rising cost of living.

He also advocated investment in a modern mass transit system to ease transportation costs and stimulate economic growth across the state.

According to him, the 2027 governorship election should be centred on issues affecting the welfare of the people rather than political grandstanding.

“The people want leadership that creates jobs, supports students, protects senior citizens, strengthens healthcare and grows the economy,” he said.

Turnah added that the PDP would continue to present what he described as practical solutions for economic recovery and inclusive development.

He also disclosed that consultations among opposition parties and political stakeholders were ongoing, adding that a coalition of opposition groups would soon be inaugurated in Bayelsa to provide what he described as a credible political alternative.

He expressed confidence that the people of Bayelsa would ultimately decide the state’s political future through the ballot box.