Turnah Denies Receiving Contracts During Jonathan’s Presidency, Challenges Critics

The Bayelsa State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, has denied receiving contracts from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, challenging anyone with evidence to prove otherwise.

Turnah said he did not receive any contract from the Jonathan administration during the former president’s six years in office, either in his name or through another person acting on his behalf.

He made the statement in Yenagoa during the PDP State Executive Committee meeting, where he defended his record in public service and accused some individuals of trying to damage his reputation.

“Throughout the six years of Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, I did not receive any contract from his government, not in my name, not in the name of anybody on my behalf,” he said.

He challenged anyone who served in the Presidency, ministries, departments or agencies during the period to produce evidence that he received a contract.

Turnah also denied allegations that he received money to build Ogbia community but diverted the funds, describing the claims as false rumours.

He said his record as a former special assistant on youth development at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should be assessed based on his contributions rather than unverified allegations.

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The PDP chairman also challenged anyone claiming that he had been convicted of money laundering, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery or conspiracy to produce the relevant court records.

He said although he had faced prosecution over allegations relating to those offences, anyone claiming that he was convicted should provide evidence to support the claim.

“I do not fear death, and I know that my life is in God’s hands. I will continue to speak truth to power at all times,” Turnah said.

He accused some individuals of using social media to attack his reputation, insisting that the criticism would not distract him from his role as an opposition leader.

Turnah said he remained committed to holding the Bayelsa State Government accountable and rebuilding the PDP into a party capable of addressing poverty and improving the lives of residents.

The PDP chairman also criticised the state government’s spending on the celebration of Bayelsa’s 30th anniversary, demanding that Governor Douye Diri’s administration publish a detailed account of the expenditure.

He called on the government to disclose the total amount spent and identify the budgetary provision that authorised the celebration.

Turnah said the government should apologise to Bayelsans if it was established that public funds had been misused.

He argued that the anniversary celebration should not take priority over the difficulties facing residents, including hunger, the inability of some parents to pay school fees, shortages of drugs in hospitals and poor road conditions.

The PDP chairman further accused the Bayelsa State House of Assembly of failing to provide effective oversight of government spending.

However, the claims concerning the anniversary expenditure and the allegations against Turnah were not independently established in the information available for this report.