Guber: Turnah Unveils Plan for Opposition Coalition to Rescue Bayelsa

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, George Turnah, has disclosed that consultations among opposition political parties are at an advanced stage, announcing that a coalition aimed at providing what he described as a credible alternative government in the state would soon be inaugurated.

Turnah made the disclosure on Wednesday while addressing journalists shortly after arriving at the Port Harcourt International Airport from Abuja, where he also called on Governor Douye Diri to introduce a series of welfare and economic intervention programmes to cushion the hardship facing residents.

According to him, the proposed coalition would unite opposition political parties and stakeholders ahead of future elections, with a focus on addressing unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living in the state.

He said the coalition was committed to peaceful democratic engagement and expressed confidence that Bayelsans would determine the future of the state through the ballot.

Turnah urged the Bayelsa State Government to immediately clear outstanding pension and gratuity arrears, restore the payment of bursaries to students, subsidise healthcare services, reduce transportation costs and recruit 20,000 youths into the Bayelsa Volunteer and Bayelsa Vigilante Schemes.

He proposed that the recruited youths should receive a monthly stipend of N150,000, arguing that the initiative would help reduce unemployment and improve security across the state.

According to him, the proposed youth empowerment programme would cost about N3 billion monthly, a figure he said was affordable considering the state’s monthly allocations from the Federation Account.

Turnah maintained that Bayelsa’s problem was not a lack of resources but the government’s spending priorities.

He argued that government should focus more on programmes that directly improve the welfare of the people rather than projects with little immediate impact on their daily lives.

According to him, investments in mass transit buses would also reduce transportation costs for residents and stimulate economic activities across the state.

He said: “The issues before Bayelsans are clear. The people desire leadership that places their welfare first, creates jobs for young people, supports students, protects senior citizens, strengthens healthcare, and grows the economy. The PDP under my leadership will mobilize Bayelsans to defeat hunger, poverty, unemployment, and economic conditions.”

Turnah insisted that Bayelsa has sufficient financial resources to address hunger and poverty if government prioritises people-oriented programmes.

He said the opposition would continue to engage the government on policies affecting citizens while presenting what he described as practical alternatives for economic recovery and inclusive development.

The PDP chairman also reacted to Governor Douye Diri’s recent remark that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the opposition to defeat the ruling party in Bayelsa.

According to Turnah, every political leader is entitled to personal opinions, but the outcome of future elections would ultimately be decided by the electorate.

He argued that the next political contest would not simply be between political parties but between the aspirations of Bayelsans for improved living conditions and the prevailing economic challenges confronting many households.

Turnah reaffirmed the commitment of the PDP to democratic processes, saying the planned opposition coalition would offer Bayelsans what he described as a people-focused political alternative capable of addressing the state’s socio-economic challenges.