AN OPEN LETTER TO MY DEAR BROTHER, BARR. GEORGE ALABH TURNAH, MON ON THE NEED TO BE CIRCUMSPECT TO AVOID THE WRATH OF THE IJAW NATION

28th March, 2025.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MY DEAR BROTHER, BARR. GEORGE ALABH TURNAH, MON ON THE NEED TO BE CIRCUMSPECT TO AVOID THE WRATH OF THE IJAW NATION

My dear brother, 

I hope and pray this letter meets you well in sound health of mind and body. 

Several persons including notable leaders have called my attention to some worrisome developments which before now were seen and even dismissed as usual internal party squabble and supremacy tussle. 

However, recent happenings particularly the widespread publicity about the rumoured Mega Rally under the platform of New Associates, Bayelsa State Chapter has become a great thing of concern to me and I believe strongly that same applies to most of your genuine supporters and admirers. 

As you read this letter, you can attest to the fact that you have in me not just an elder brother that genuinely love you, but one that will always stand by you to the end no matter the issue, circumstance or consequences. In the same vein, you also know that I am one person that has never failed to tell you the bitter, naked and undiluted truth. I know how you grapple with such bitter truth some time, but you have always agreed and also appreciated me for telling you bitter truth. 

Politics is a very delicate game that is laced with bitter and sweet tastes. It is so because of its dynamic nature. It's near indispensable and irreplaceable position in our daily lives whether at the homefront, places of worship, neighbourhood, offices and others have made it an integral part of our existence. This is more profound in our contemporary society that is programmed around institutionalized periodic electioneering activities. 

As a proponent of the political school of thought that sees politics as a game of interest and not sentiment and a strong adherent of the definition of politics by Harold Dwight Lasswell (1936) as "who gets what, when and how", I do not rush to judge personal decisions and positions that people hold about issues in politics. But the above position does not also compromise the place of conscience and morality. It rather reechoes the fact that no matter how we play politics, we must prioritize decency and also ensure that we do not lower or jettison morality or betray our conscience because of momentary gains. 

My dear brother, you may have grievances and disaffection about issues in your relationship and dealings with our leader and father, His Excellency Very Distinguished Senator Douye Diri, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State but your sudden outburst and the litany of successive activities that are all targeted at undermining the Office of the Governor and his person is indeed very worrisome. 

My dear brother, I can never downplay the roles that you played during the election between His Excellency and Chief David Lyon and the 2023 re-election, the same way we cannot dismiss the appreciable rewards and benefits that you got from His Excellency who has been extremely gracious to you, knowing that multitudes also worked for him, but never got such enviable rewards. 

While I cannot question your right to crave for more rewards or express your displeasure over prevalent issues, I believe that the approach, way and manner is very key knowing the invaluable position of relationship above temporary political gains. 

Gov. Douye Diri over the years have seen and also treated you as one of his beloved younger brothers, friend and close confidants. Thus, I do not think that you are the most suitable person to play the present character of 'Brutus' in the epic novel 'Julius Caesar'. 

Again, while I acknowledge the fact that politics is a game of interest, I do not subscribe to any action that is suggestive of betrayal especially of an elder brother and friend who stood by you during your darkest moments when many abandoned you. 

Moving forward, it is pertinent to look at the political crisis in Rivers State from a holistic point of view. While we acknowledge the political dimension in the whole unfolding drama, there is absolutely no way we can overlook the ethnic and social dimensions. 

Since the history of social interactions and territorial conquest, the Ijaw Nation which undoubtedly is the fourth largest tribe in Nigeria have never been conquered. Ijaws were not conquered by the British imperialists or territorial expansionists and there is absolutely no way that Ijaw Nation that is blessed with abundant human and natural resources today can be conquered. 

Your proposed Mega Rally in Bayelsa State to appreciate Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is ill-concieved. It is not only a direct insult and affront against Bayelsans and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, it is also very provocative. Thus, no matter the intention, it is totally unacceptable. 

It is worthy to note that most of the persons who are cheering you in the midst of your present dance, do not actually love you. They are all praying and wishing your down fall. 

You must realize that the present attack/storm against the Ijaw Nation will not last forever, the same way no king or kingdom has reigned forever except the kingdom of God. 

The privileged strong men that benevolent spirits cracked their kernels may use the same powers that they got through the help of Ijaws to kill Ijaw people. They can attempt to render Ijaws economically and politically redundant in fulfillment of the grand conspiracies against the Ijaw Nation, but they cannot kill the IJAW NATION. Their ends also shall be like those of King Pharaoh, King Nebuchadnezzar, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stallin of the defunct Soviet Union and other cruel rulers who abused the powers and privileges that God gave them. 

My dear brother, you are a young man with very bright future. It is not good to destroy your very promising future because of the quest for momentary gains. 

It will not be good for posterity to hold you in contempt as someone that projected your personal interest above the collective interest of the Ijaw Nation. So, while it is good to be ambitious, such ambition should not be at the expense and detriment of the peace, unity and dignity of the Ijaw Nation that is presently under attack. 

In concluding this piece, I wish to advice you on the need for moderation knowing that tomorrow is another day. Relationship is more valuable that momentary wealth. Again, do not serve as the willing tool for the destabilization of Bayelsa state which is the Headquarters and Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation. 

Finally, it is my fervent prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide you to make the right decision at this critical moment, while believing that it is not too late to make amend or reconcile with Gov. Douye Diri who has always demonstrated genuine love for you. 

Your brother, 

WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI

Mirror and Conscience of Society