Pro-Wike Rally: Church Not Aware Of Use Of Its Premises

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

State Govt. asks IGP to urgently investigate the resultant violence

The Bayelsa State Government has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode  Egbetokun to urgently institute an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the shootings ,and security breaches that occurred during a controversial political rally organized by  associates of Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister on Saturday April 26, 2025 in Yenagoa the State capital.

This is just as the leadership of the Bayelsa State chapter of the Church of God Mission International, accused the organizers of the said rally of hoodwinking it into leasing out its premises for the said political gathering.

The Source reports that  Governor Douye Diri had earlier  refused to grant the George Turnah-led pro-Wike group access to the Yenagoa stadium or any of the State’s facilities for a proposed  mega rally to drum support for the FCT minister .

The State Government had cited the need to preserve the fragile peace of Bayelsa State in the face of the volatile political situation in the neighbouring Rivers State as a major reason for banning all forms of rallies in the State.

However, despite the State’s subsisting ban on open rallies, Turnah, a well known ally of Wike, in conjunction with his New Associates Group,went ahead to hold the said rally on Saturday, using the premises of the Church of God Mission as venue.

But the rally was marred by sporadic gun shots from yet-to-be determined quarters, with two people believed to be dead and several others injured.

In a statement issued Saturday night by the Commissioner for Information,  Orientation and Strategy, Mrs Obiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the Bayelsa State Government urged the Police to urgently track down those behind the reported shootings and the fracas at the rally ground l.

According to the state authorities ,the incident cannot be dismissed with the wave of the hand,noting that  the organizers had earlier threatened that ” the good ,the bad and the ugly would be attending the rally ” .

The state Government expressed concern about  how a supposedly peaceful rally could turn violent ,with many said  to be seriously injured.

The Commissioner for Information called on the Police to commence a full scale investigation into the incident with a view to apprehending and prosecuting those found wanting.

The authorities emphasized the imperativeness of the probe, particularly in the face of the said rally violating extant rules and regulations guiding political activities.

The State Government maintained that the rally was against the provisions of the Electoral Act and political guidelines as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, more so when it was held on the Camp ground of a Religious body.

Instructively, the leadership of the host Church, in a statement from its State Coordinator, Rev Dr Alexander Inegbese, noted that the said permission granted to one Dr Pabara Newton Igwele for the use of its ground by the organizers of the rally was strange to the Church authorities.

According to him, the Church as a matter of policy, does not get involved in political matters, emphasising its neutrality and commitment towards maintaining an environment devoid of political influence and endorsement.

The Church’s position comes against the backdrop of the Bayelsa State Government announcement of its commitment towards investigating how the Church granted the rally organizers its premises.