Ten days of yesterday (Rage of anger, Hunger strike, #Badgovernorance) Bayelsa state experience.

 

    By  Hon  Ofoni D WILLIAMS (Part 1) 

The absence of war do not suggest peace, peace is not probing wrong, peace is exhibiting noble character.

The ten days of yesterday is not short of the above statement that 

is legendary but it has come and gone, with trade mark of sorrow and blood. 

The protest that greeted the nation, outcome was predictable and avoidable. Hence, wisdom based fellows across the length and breadth suggested, to let go the protest. 

Truth to type, the advance notions and feelings had come to fore. Upon it wake up  call status of the protest. We are all subjected to regret because of lost of precious life's that are cut short unjustly. 

However, in Bayelsa state life was not lost, do not exempt Bayelsa ns and alike from the heaps of packs of sorrow, blood and regret.  As the protest had further xray a very fragile peace in place. 

Swindling political propaganda was the order of the day in Bayelsa state. The air wave atest to  the above. 

Noble leaders took various platforms to reach out to Bayelsans,  on need to see to reasonable reasonings to let go the protest. 

 Despite the fact that we all acknowledged that protest is a democratic language and right of a people to freely Express themselves. 

However,  it's important to note that there is no absolute right in the entire universe, under no circumstances. 

No doubt, it informed the plead among other obvious reasons, such as the negative attributes associated with protest in most cases (violence, destruction of properties, possibly lost of life's and after effect on society...peace and economy)

More particularly, we are in a serious economy threshold that required seasoned understanding from every person's and quarters concerning our situation and challenges. 

In a nutshell, life sustainace of the common man is best described as the most visible miracle and existence of God in the globe.  

As the difficult times are not limited to Nigeria Nation alone. 

The above was not suggestive and cautionary  enough , as Senator  Duoye Diri , governor of Bayelsa state launched and noted that from intelligent gathering ,former governor Chief Timpre Sylva is said to be the brain behind the project in Bayelsa state. Further linked certain persons as willing tools.

The political expansion brought to bear Sen Lokpobiri (current minister of oil ,federal Republic of Nigeria to the saga). Upon statement accredited to Sen Lokpobiri too , compounded the political horse trading in the state. 

Giving room for the social media boys to wag their tails unnecessarily, occasioned ill wind among Bayelsans unjustly. As political equations are brought to bear uncontrollable. 

Indicating,  as if 2023 and 2027 governorship are profound problems of the state. This mentality berates Bayelsans and most likely not found in the radar of commity of progressive minds 

Firstly, because the 2023 governorship election issue is now before the supreme court of Nigeria. 

This in itself is a civilised form of protest Apc leadership and the candidate of the party,  Chief Timpre Sylva had adopted. 

Moreso,  election is said not to be over until it's over. 

 Chief David Lyon victory at the Governorship election 2019 noted the above.  

We are now forced to live with the popular phrase " As the court voted " 

Sadly, the votes of the electorate never count. This is the genesis of miracle governor slogan in Bayelsa state. 

Secondly, there are obvious reasons for Bayelsans to speak out or protest.  

At this juncture, let it be noted that i do not endorse street protest , for it attributes  earlier xray and Copiously  captured in my write up before the ten days of yesterday protest.  Captioned... The trying times and  likely outcome (August 1st protest in focus)  in which Nigerians are prayed to let go , state

 consciously my stand on street protest. 

Be that it may be, the absence of transforming energy power that had earned  the state,  capital of darkness in Nigeria federation. (2019 to 2024 budget reads barely  Ten billion naira only)

The absence of potable drinking water, which in itself is food is enough reason for people to speak out or protest  Senator Duoye Diri led pdp government in Bayelsa state among many more known issues. 

The Bayelsa state water  board facility is abandoned to the extent that water vendors now supply water to the facility. 

Interestingly, water is everywhere but no potable  drinking water in Bayelsa state.

 In respective of budget provision five years running  and into billions of  Naira.( 2019 to 2024 budget for ministry of water indicates or reads approximately six billion naira only)

No wonder, Bayelsans had been advised publicly in a  Radio programme by a phone in participant to source drinking water from the Rivers. 

A painful and sad commentary. Bayelsans had lived with a decade plus. 

It's an open secret that Bayelsa state had witnessed some form of potable drinking distribution in the past. 

In 

the days of Chief DSP Alameyesiagha,  water was distributed via water tanks to citizenry. The Enugu state experience, because of too many competing needs of the state. 

 Bayelsa state water board was later established by same Chief DSP Alameyesiagha era.

While during Chief Timpre Sylva era, Bayelsans equally witnessed certain degree of water recticulation....

The rest is now history of poor welfare.

The above  mentioned  reasons for protest indicates that development is not for man but man for development in Bayelsa state.

 Because the issues therein mentioned boarders on welfare of man that remains cardinal focus of government and good governance in any part of the globe ( provision of basic and enhancement of mankind existence)

Upon the above, it's necessary to note that water, energy power provision among others is a vital medium for effective distribution of the common wealth of the people by government world wide. 

Critical observation points to the simple fact that  the welfare of citizens in Bayelsa state strive on lips service, judging from the budget provision to critical ministries that impact life's among others.

Inputting further and accepting the fact that budget s are mere tentative estimate. Makes the situation worrisome and pitiable. 

Drawing comparism with Edo state that is relatively less liquid to Bayelsa state. 

Governor Obasaki had built refinery,  Gas turbine plant for his state and to generate revenue. 

While on the part of Bayelsa state. Thirteen years running,  Bayelsa state is yet to achieve mere installation of gas turbine procured by Chief Timpre Sylva (former Governor of Bayelsa state) with  budget provision of five years of Sen Duoye Diri amounting to Ten billion naira only. 

Unfortunately, Bayelsa state is now replaced by Edo state as champion of states. 

Edo state is now the first to own state Refinery,  first to migrate to Forty  and seventy thousand naira minimum wage in Nigeria. 

Whereas, before the current champion  Edo state . Bayelsa state was first to pay Eighteen thousand minimum wage in the days of late Chief D S P  Alameyesiagha led government. 

Moreso, first to build Five hundred bed hospital, first to create Lga's or rural development centres, refer to as G34 in Bayelsa state,  first to institute state police structure "Bayelsa state volunteer " ,first  to provide light free to her citizenry, etc.

Bayelsa state was the destination and pilgrimage of a sort to other states,  to under study Lga's creation. 

But today, high uncertainty reigns in the air that Bayelsa state government might not implement the new Seventy thousand naira minimum wage as when due.

As it was the case of the Thirty thousand minimum wage to local government workers. 

Shocking enough to note that the Eighteen thousand minimum wage is better than thirty minimum in Bayelsa state. I stand to be corrected. 

At this juncture, let me advise and warn in the spirit of Izon, that failure to effect the seventy thousand minimum wage speedily shall smell doom for Bayelsa state. 

This is the time for us all to prevail on Senator Duoye Diri led state government to do the needful without delay and let us not find ourselves in medicine after death approaches . 

To be continued