Bayelsa’s new hope is tied to the outcome of the supreme court judgment between his Excellency Chief Timipre Sylva of the APC and INEC/PDP during the just concluded November 11, 2023 Governorship election where Sylva is dissatisfied over INEC’s reluctance to collate APC results in three L.G.A namely Southern Ijaw, Ogbia and Nembe at the INEC’s collation centre in Yenagoa as INEC declared Diri the winner of that election.
Sylva who do not succumb to failure, a very resilient and forward politician, however, have approached the court to demand for justice.
The objective of every good and responsible government is to ameliorate the suffering of its citizens while working earnestly and deliberately to guarantee development and at same time improving the living standard of the people through workable socio-economic policies and programmes. Yet, Bayelsa’s governance story under Diri has been different, hopeless, pitiable and most regrettable.
Under Diri’s administration, youths are undergoing a great deal of starvation through unemployment which resulted to the beating to death of a first class graduate when he stole a loaf of bread to quench his hunger and that of his younger sister whose parents have died leaving him to cater for his younger ones in a society where even a first class graduate is not considered for employment.
Under Diri’s administration, gross darkness is a weapon used deliberately to torment the people of the state, where seven (7) young men met their untimely death in one night while working in a studio at Amarata on the 21st May, 2024 via the emission of carbon-monoxide pollutant from their generator.
Under Diri’s administration, major bus-stops within the state capital is left for madmen to occupy causing public hazard.
In 2024, the federal government declared Bayelsa State insolvent and the governor groans while condemning the federal government stating that the federal government is responsible for her poor economy and predicament by sharing Bayelsa‘s resources with other states in the country.
Diri decried that if 100% resource control is granted to him, he would have turned Yenegoa to small Houston-Texas, USA. Meanwhile, Yenagoa have not even witnessed the minutest 13% Houston’s development under Diri.
Hence, claiming to turn Yenagoa to small Houston if given 100% derivative fund, is the greatest falsehood (scam) ever.
In 2023, Governor Douye Diri received a whopping sum of 103 Billion naira as derivative fund which accrued to the state during Buhari’s administration, but with that 103 Billion naira:
The 3- Senatorial roads are incomplete and abandoned. The Peremabiri rice farm is left fallow. No portable water for the people living in the state. The landlord’s of government house (Creek Haven) Ovom/Yenagoa communities are living in slums just a stone throw to government house. Five star Hotel is abandoned, Plastic industry built by Sylva has been destroyed with no intention of revamping it. The roads within the state capital are in shambles (potholed). The Ebedebiri cassava processing plant built by his predecessor, His Excellency, Senator Seriake Dickson is abandoned. What more proofs does anyone need before he or she believes that the government of Senator Douye Diri is a lip-service government. They build towers with their lips without physical foundation, let alone the completion of the project.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri received 52 Billion naira as allocation for the month of February 2024.
In that same month the governor applied for 60 Billion naira loan to the BYSHA which was hastily approved without questioning/scrutiny.
Same month again, shell petroleum company paid 35 Billion naira damages to the State Government over issues of gas flaring/pollution in the Gbaran LNG plant.
With all these receipts in tones of Billions, if you visit the State, you will cry like a child over the spate of underdevelopment.
Bayelsa’s hope of becoming the pride of the nation was truncated from the day the baton of leadership was passed on to wrong set of leaders. Everything took a wrong shape and turn.
Bayelsa State which was among the richest State in Nigeria was quickly turned to a poverty-breeding ground such that we became the second most poorest State (poverty headquarter) in Nigeria.
Under the circumstances highlighted above:
Bayelsa became a land where dreams can no longer be grown and realized easily.
Young men in their numbers wander from street to street in search of jobs but could not find any single industry to absorb them.
A state with over 250,000 out of school children which happens to be one of the worst record of ‘out of school children’ in the country.
Summarily, how unfortunate and pathetic that a governor who cannot manage 13% derivative fund which accrued to his State from the federation account to commission a single project in his 100 days in office is seen demanding for 100% resource control.
What for?
We are doomed as a people and we look forward to a liberator who will redefine and redeem our lost glory and status, and we see that quality, character and passion in His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva PhD.
We therefore pray for Chief Timipre Sylva of the APC to emerge victorious in the Supreme Court.
Long live our legend and generational political leader, His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva PhD.
Long live the good people of Bayelsa State.
Writer: Ogbotobo Innocent Kpenmovie
a.k.a The great Kiki
An ardent Sylva-social media activist
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