By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Yenagoa
DELTA: Fresh protests have rocked Bayelsa State following the controversial decision by the state government to relocate the headquarters of the Kolo Creek Rural Development Authority (RDA) from Kolo to Emeyal II, both in Ogbia Local Government Area. The move is stirring political tension, with many accusing Governor Douye Diri of victimizing Kolo community for perceived political disloyalty.
Kolo is the hometown of Mr George Turnah, a former ally of Governor Diri who has since aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Turnah leads a pro-Wike group known as the New Associates, and his strained relationship with the governor has heightened political rivalry in the state.
The relocation of the RDA headquarters, which many see as a prelude to the creation of a new local government council from Kolo RDA—reportedly to be named Ogbia North—has ignited uproar among residents, who believe it is politically motivated and targeted at their community.
Community leaders argue that the move is not only unfair but also risks plunging the area into crisis.
“We see this as an orchestrated gang-up against the people of Kolo,” said Chief Solomon Ederi Aginaye, 1st Deputy Agholo of Kolo Kingdom. “The community has not been carried along. Since supporting Senator Douye Diri in both of his elections, we have not seen a single benefit in terms of projects or appointments.”
Chief Aginaye accused the Diri-led administration of sidelining the community because of its perceived political closeness to Wike. He urged the federal government to intervene and restore justice.
“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and the FCT Minister to stop this injustice. The people of Kolo deserve better. This is not just about George Turnah. It’s about fairness and peace,” he said.
Protesters marched through the streets of Kolo over the weekend, displaying placards and chanting slogans demanding the reversal of the decision and the reinstatement of Kolo as the rightful RDA headquarters.
In response to the growing tension, Governor Diri held a closed-door meeting with representatives of Kolo and Emeyal communities at the Government House in Yenagoa. He clarified that no local government has been officially created yet, noting that the state was only responding to a last-minute notice from the Federal Government regarding proposals for new councils.
“Kolo remains the headquarters of the Kolo Creek RDA as of now,” Diri said. “No final decision has been taken. We want to maintain peace in Ogbia Constituency III, and that’s why we invited both communities to dialogue.”
The governor also stressed that historically, civilian governments have been unable to create local government areas, hinting that the process remains largely under federal jurisdiction.
Despite his clarification, residents of Kolo remain wary, alleging that the groundwork for marginalisation is already being laid.
As the matter simmers, all eyes are on the National Assembly, where proposals for the creation of new councils, including the contentious Ogbia North, are currently being considered.