Gov Diri Sacks Appointees Linked To Pro-Wike Group

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Palpable tension and anxiety  on Thursday May 1, 2025, trailed the sack of no fewer than 30 political appointees by the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.

The appointees, mostly Special Assistants, and members of the Governor’s Grassroots Mobilization Team, and the Conflict Resolution Committee, had their appointments terminated on April, 23, 2025.

AIthough no specific reasons have so far been adduced for the sweeping sack, speculations are, however, rife that most of the affected persons have been linked to George Turnah’s New  Associates Group ,the organizers of the ill-fated Yenagoa Pro-Wike rally.

The Source reports that the New Associates, a pro-Wike group, headed by Turnah had last week held a rally in Yenagoa to drum support for both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nyesom Wike the FCT Minister against a subsisting order banning political rallies in the State.

Governor Diri had banned all forms of rallies in the State, citing the volatile situation in neighbouring Rivers State and the need to avoid a spill over into Bayelsa as major reasons.

The sacked political appointees are believed to be part of the Pro-Wike New Associate Group that organized the rally which held at the premises of the Church of God Mission International in the state capital.

The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Irorodamie  Komonibo, in a letter to the Secretary to the State Government, directed the stoppage of the emoluments of the affected appointees ,as well as the recovery of all Government property in their possession.

Expectedly, the Pro-Wike Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Caretaker Committee in the State ,condemned the action of the Governor, describing it as “unjust and a demonstration of intolerance on the part of Governor Diri.”

“Sacking these political aides who believe in our vision as a party and worked diligently to promote inclusiveness and civic engagement represents a severe breach of trust and an affront to democratic participation”, Derri Alasuote ,the Committee spokesperson noted.