Press briefing by George Turnah, Zonal Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, South-South Zone In two separate broadcasts, while addressing the State Security Council and the Elders’ Council, the Governor claimed he encountered a Facebook report featuring my phone number that suggested I would host Minister Wike for a rally organised by the NEW Associates in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital. These claims, which were anchored on a Facebook report that Governor Diri did not bother to verify first, are entirely false and represent the highest form of rumour-mongering. It is particularly regrettable to hear this from someone occupying the esteemed office of a state governor. For clarification, at no time has our group, the NEW Associates Bayelsa State Chapter, or any associated entity announced plans to host Minister Wike in Bayelsa State or any other location on the dates mentioned or any other time. I stand to be corrected; for any Minister of the Federal Republic to visit a state within the Federation, there must be some form of Government to Government communication as well as full disclosure of such planned visits, at least to relevant security formations in the state indeed for such visit.
