WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI
I watched a recent video that was released by George Alabh Turnah, the self-styled purported factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.
In the said video that was meant to deceive gullible members of the public, he pontificated and boasted how he stood alone at the INEC Collation Centre at Ogbia Town in the midst of intimidation and others which are all lies.
It is only an individual that is hallucinating that can arrogate the success of an electoral process to himself alone, like the scenarios in fairy-tales where only one character in the movie can conquer a city of millions of people with magic wands.
In saner climes, people like George Alabh Turnah with questionable characters are supposed to be hiding themselves in shame instead of constituting nuisance everywhere, all in the name of politics.
I was among those who criticized and protested against the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) because of George Alabh Turnah.
I never knew the depth of his crime until the EFCC opened up unimaginable fraudulent acts of the young man with voluminous documents. The worst were those of billions of Naira that were meant for skill acquisition programmes and empowerment of youths of Niger Delta region.
This is a young man who collected billions of Naira Water Hyacinth project that were meant for empowerment of thousands of Niger Delta youths.
He also used the names of many prominent Niger Deltans, including communities, to collect so much money from NDDC where he earlier served as Special Assistant to the Managing Director/CEO.
Records of his fraudulent dealings in the Commission that ran into billions of Naira led to his arrest and prosecution.
Multitudes of Niger Delta youths particularly Bayelsans who were protesting against his prosecution by the EFCC were so disappointed when they were confronted with several authentic documents detailing the criminal acts of George Alabh Turnah.
Many rejected him because of his shameful and treacherous activities but Senator Douye Diri is among those who decided to stand by him during his darkness moments.
While he was rejected in many places, Senator Diri who has a heart of gold decided to draw him closer even though he is a younger person compared to their age differences.
For instance, the first son of Douye Diri is not only older than George Alabh Turnah, he started law practice many years before Turnah was called to the Nigerian Bar.
While the humble son of Gov. Douye Diri has a flourishing and very successful law practice, George Turnah on the other hand has never won a single case as a very dull headed lawyer.
But despite the successful legal career of the younger Diri, the young man has chosen to live a humble and very coordinated lifestyle. He has never allowed the position of his father to influence him in any way.
In the same Bayelsa State where siblings, cousins and distant relatives of former Governors paraded themselves and showed unimaginable political powers as demigods, we have a son of an incumbent Governor that is not known to most Bayelsans. He does not show up in public functions or send people to offices to harass appointees and collect contracts.
This is first time in the history of Bayelsa State where family members of the Governor are not harassing, intimidating or using the name of the Governor to gain favour in public offices.
The above speaks volume about discipline and the way and manner Gov. Douye Diri who is a political scientist, social scientist, social engineer and philosopher king has disciplined and coordinated his family.
Because of the love that Gov. Douye Diri has for Turnah and other young people, he never wanted the career of this young man to be destroyed.
Against all odds, the Governor harboured Turnah inside the Creek Haven Government House just to shield him from endless harassment and to also secure his family.
When the ungrateful and very senseless criminal was sentenced to prison terms, the Governor used his position to help him out.
Today, the shameless Ex-Convict that Gov. Diri gave millions of Naira to go abroad for his further studies but used the same money to launch media attacks and propaganda to attract political patronage is doing everything within his powers to tarnish the image of the Governor. But i am happy that multitudes of young people are extremely unhappy with this show of ingratitude.
As one of the beneficiaries of the benevolence and goodwill of the Governor, I wish to use this rare opportunity to humbly and passionately appeal to our God-sent Governor not to be discouraged by the actions of this ungrateful fellow.
Bayelsans are proud of the good works that His Excellency is doing in the state and we beg him to remain focused and determined on finishing strong.
– Chief (Hon) Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli JP