By Thomas Peretu
When Senator Douye Diri emerged from the back waters of Isampou —behind the shadows of a towering political dinasaur in 2020 as the governor of Bayelsa State, not too many persons were enthused by the verdict of the supreme court. The apex court, you will recall upturned the result of the election by handing over the peoples mandate to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Of course, there was no effusive welcome soiree to herald the coming of the new king as our people are wont to do at such auspicious occasions.
The excitement and enthusiasm of the moment was largely subdued and restrictive due to the tense political climate that enveloped the state.
The governorship election was a two horse race. It was between David Lyon of All Progressives Congress and Senator Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party. While David Lyon, a little known philantropist had amassed the goodwill of the people going into that election, Douye Diri on the other hand was dogged by a perception trajectory. I will explain. Even so, the election was a near run thing by all standards.
The disenchantment of the citiìzens especially the Epie people, against Senator Douye Diri was not because he was a political neophite, nor was he totally unknown; even though his tour of duty at the senate lack the brilliance of a midnight star. His stewardship at the lower and upper chambers leaves a sour taste on the tongue. His political resume was not in any way insipring. As a matter of fact some analysts choose to look at him from the other end of telescope. But he soon proved them wrong.
Citizen Lyon— too did not escape public scrutiny. He was not without his own achiles heels. This obvious black hole which stared him in the face held him hostatage putting a dent on his public persona. He had a question mark dangling over his head like the sword of damacle.
Lyon’s intellectual capacity, his competence, his inability to constructively articulate ideas and to communicate same effectively were issues on the front burner. These were questions without answers. The minders of the politician had herculean task laundering his image. It was a hardshell. No doubt. Steering him to remain focused during the campaign period was a difficult assignment. Because the man had the irredeemable penchant to veer off course like a stray horse in the wild. Senator Okpebholo of Edo State is a carbon copy of our Lyon of that era.
The sceptism that greeted governor Douye’s emergence was provoked in part by the trust deficit that prevailed between the people and the government of the day. He was perceived either rightly or wrongly as the proxy or man Friday of Hon Henry Seriake Dickson. It was assumed by a cross section of the voters that Senator Douye Diri was led to the spotlight to prosecute a well ochestrated third term agenda.
[ ] Little wonder why the supreme court verdict fueled the crisis that consumed lives and properties in the state. The All Progress Congress Youths plus some other disenchanted citizens went berserk. The aggrieved youths took to the streets maiming and looting shops. Not even the state radio station, Glory fm was spared their ire. The angst of the mob was unleashed on the people for no just cause. The station, was torched while private cars in the premises were vandalised. This conundrum went on for days on end. Perhaps what made the verdict more disturbing was the circumstances surrounding the preparations for the d-day. The assumed winner of the election was already rehearsing for the big event slated for the next day. Officials of the APC had also obtained the handover note from the HSD government hours before inauguration. At least I was an eye witness at the occasion. Preparations for the inaugural ceremony was in top gear when the apex court dropped the bombshell. The irate youths who were rooting for a new beginning were greatly disappointed and devastated. They decided to vent their spleen on innocent citizens.
But we must however, give credit to Senator Douye Diri
He rose to the occasion. SDD displayed an unparalleled leadership during a most trying period of his political career. Not only did he douse the tension, he went a step further to appeal for calm. Instead of wielding the big stick, he dangled carrots before the angry youths. As a man of peace, he extended his hand of fellowship to the opposition. He even made up with the leader of the APC, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva. Just to give room for peace in the state.
Senator Douye Diri was very strategic in his actions given the trust deficit he inherited from the previous administration. Hence, the prosperity government bent backwards to build bridges of understanding in order to accommodate the very many leaders who had decamped to APC. He gave some of them juicy appointments to assuage their anger. SDD then laid a solid foundation upon which to build a formidable future for the state.
During his first tenure in office, he embarked on massive infrastructure development to the delight of the people. His name was on the lips of everyone for good and not for ill. For the first time he flagged off the construction of the Nembe–Brass highway which was abandoned for many decades. The road if completed is expected to open up the East senatorial district. Dont forget Sylva is from that axis.
Over time, Senator Diri happily walked out of the larger than life shadows of his political godfather. He painstakingly created a distinct persona for himself and his prosperity gover ment.
SDD deliberatly courted the relationship of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and other political big wigs in and outside the state who were at daggers drawn with HSD.
There was no gainsaying that the governor who dubbed himself as the miracle governor acquitted himself creditably. Despite the headwinds before him, he prevailed over them. Aided as it were by the tail winds of supporters, he coasted home in clear weather because the people were with him. And he earned the applause of all and sundry.
However, it is sad to note that the miracle governor is inevitably and steadily deviating from the path of glory? Instead of consolidating on his monumental achivements in this second term, he is seen turning back the hand of the clock. Why?
He has allowed himself to be distracted by prebendal politics. Fatigue has reared its urgly head in the system. Analysts say he is being distracted perhaps overwhelmed by the enormity of the work at hand. After all onece you concentrate on the glamour of of the office, you’ll definitely lose traction. While you enjoy the razzmatazz of the office pay equally or more attention to the assignment at hand. The state is presently in a terrible nick. The governor is no more than a visitor to the state as he spends more time outside in search of the elusive investors abroad. He has developed a new pass time. If he is not receieving a phantom award in New York, he is giving a lecture somewhere with the aim of being rewarded with a doctorate degree. All at the expense of the tax payers money.. In a few days from now, the government will, in the next few days play host to the Nigerian guild of editors. The intention is to showcase his achievements in the four and a half years. No doubt billions of naira will be frittered down the drain for hosting a meaningless confab that will not profit the people.our citizens are being impoverished daily by the unconscionable acts of government despite the humungous federal allocation to the state especially in this era of subsidy removal.
Can you imagine that Bayelsa State has been without a flicker of light for four monts and still counting? As at this moment, the state is in pitch darkness and nothing tangible has been done to restore power. It is impossible to recount the hardship this may have caused the hapless citizens. I also lost my beloved 95-year old father in the course of this period. Not to mention the traumatic experience of other patients with terminal diseases in the hospitals. Sad.
The state has continually suffered environmental disequilibrium including the ubiquitous annual flooding, yet the government has not deemed it fit to ameliorate the suffering of the people. For how long do we depend on palliatives and ad-hoc measures to cushion the effects of the floods? This is a rather punitive situation that calls for equal attention.
Only recently, the government embarked on a political needless jamboree or socio-economic bonanza to be more precise —-by offering appointments to every Jick and Harry — over 4000 beneficiaries as at the last count. Good as it may sound, it does not make any economic sense. The action, to my mind defies any logic or rational imperative. It is a recipe for economic confusion if you ask me. This is not sustainable because some projects have to be sacrificed for the payment of the salaries of these appointees. By the way, whether this policy of government will translate to political credit at the polls in the next electoral circle is a subject for debate. We can only conjecture on the merit of the policy for now. I hope this will not be an excuse to deny the citizens of other people oriented programmes and policies including rural road infrastural development.
The turn of events in Bayelsa State is to say the least very disconcerting and despeakable especially in the face of the colossal amounts of federal allocation pumped into the state. Isn’t it ridiculous that Bayelsa State is ranked among the poorest states in the country? No thanks to leadership deficiency syndrome (LDS). We pray SDD wii demonstrate good conscience going forward. This is the most appropriate time at his disposal to right the wrongs of the past. He should be thinking of a befitting legacy so as to have his name written in gold. He must work hard to occupy a pride of place in our collective memory. He cannot afford to fail. I hope he will find reason to pitch his tent with the hapless masses of the state. He started well so he should end well. Let’s not turn Bayelsa State to a risible theatre of the absurd. Let’s allow the voice of reason to dictate every step we take as leaders and followers. Shikenan.
This is my take.
Thomas Peretu is a public affairs analyst
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