Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
The peoples democratic party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has challenged Governor Douye Diri’s prosperity administration to publish a detailed account of the funds spent on the state’s 30th anniversary celebration, demanding full disclosure of the expenditure and the budgetary provisions authorising it.
” State chairman of the party, George Alabh Turnah, made the demand on Wednesday in Yenagoa during the party’s state executive committee (SEC) meeting, insisting that the government must account for every naira spent on the celebration.”
Turnah said the administration should disclose the total expenditure in naira and kobo and identify the specific budget line under which the spending was approved.
“We demand that the Diri administration urgently publish, in naira and kobo, exactly how much was spent on the Bayelsa at 30 celebration and show the budgetary line that authorised the expenditure.”
He added that the government owed the people of Bayelsa a public apology if it failed to justify the spending, particularly against the backdrop of widespread economic hardship. According to him, the anniversary should have been an opportunity to reflect on the state’s achievements and challenges over the past three decades, rather than an occasion for what he described as wasteful spending.
“Thirty years of statehood is a milestone, and I agree that it deserves recognition. We are not where we should be, but we are also not where we were in 1996,he PDP chairman, however, argued that the celebration should not have taken precedence over the welfare of ordinary residents, many of whom, he claimed were struggling to afford food, pay school fees and access healthcare.”
He alleged that substantial public funds were spent on a lavish anniversary programme while some communities continued to grapple with poor roads, inadequate healthcare facilities and other infrastructure challenges.
Turnah cited reports putting the cost of the celebration at between N15 billion and N25 billion, but called on the government to clarify the actual amount spent,he further alleged that the 2026 Bayelsa State Appropriation Law made no provision for the anniversary expenditure arguing that the government should explain the legal and budgetary basis for the spending.
The party chairman also criticised the Bayelsa state house of assembly, accusing lawmakers of failing to provide effective oversight of the executive arm of government,he described the legislature as a rubber stamp, alleging that it had not done enough to ensure accountability in the management of public resources.
Turnah said the PDP would continue to hold the government accountable and position itself as a credible alternative capable of addressing poverty and improving the living conditions of Bayelsans.
Speaking on the party’s political journey, he expressed gratitude that members had remained steadfast despite internal challenges, acknowledging the efforts of party leaders who had worked to restore and rebuild the PDP,he also defended his personal record in public service, challenging anyone with evidence to prove that he received contracts from the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan during his six years in office.
Turnah, who said he served as special assistant on youth development at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), maintained that he had nothing to hide regarding his time in public service.
He dismissed allegations that he received money to execute a project in Ogbia and diverted the funds, describing the claims as false and urging the public to demand evidence before accepting allegations against public figures.
The PDP chairman further accused unnamed individuals of attempting to damage his reputation through social media attacks, insisting that such efforts would not distract him from his political responsibilities.
He also disputed any suggestion that he had been convicted of offences relating to money laundering, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery or conspiracy, which he said were among the offences for which he had previously been charged.
“Anyone who has any record showing that George Turnah was convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction should bring it before the Bayelsa public,Turnah maintained that he would continue to speak out against what he considered wrongdoing, declaring that he was not afraid of intimidation.
“I do not fear death,i know that my life is in God’s hands and I will continue to speak truth to power at all times,” he said.
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