On March 6, the Supreme Court put paid to the ambition of Timepre Silva to upturn the democratic process which saw Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson succeed him as governor in 2012. Syvla had sought to set aside an earlier judgment by the same apex court on his misbegotten quest to be recognized as the candidate of the PDP vide the primary election of 2012. This long-winding case will continue to generate interest because of the associated issues in the legal realm and indeed its reflection on the local politics of the state.
It will be recalled that sequel to the tenure elongation suit filed by five governors including Timipre Sylva in 2012 which was won at the High Court but lost at the Supreme Court as a result of an appeal by the then governorship candidate of the CPC in Adamawa State, Brig-General Buba Marwa (rtd), Sylva still went ahead to press for the same objective at the same highest court.
How can we reasonably situate this kind of behavior other than as an act of desperation? Of course, this much was reflected in the judgment which came hard on the plaintiff describing him as “an interloper, busy body” whose action was nothing but an abuse of the judicial process. To underscore the court’s displeasure on the matter, Sylva was asked to pay a cost of N500, 000. Even as the case has come to an end several issues continue to elicit our interrogation.
One obvious one is the penchant by some members of the political class to engage in endless litigation even when their cause or their case is hopeless thereby tying up valuable time and resources. It is as if they seek to rig through the courts what the democratic processes have declined to award to them.
Why indeed is this unrelenting disposition of throwing huge amounts of money at wasteful litigation? Or is it the popular pull him down (PhD) syndrome to which Bayelsa state has not proved immune? Or shall we now see it as part of our political DNA playing up frivolity over substance?
These questions bear correlation to politics in Bayelsa State where the incumbent governor is assailed by the activities of those dark forces who are opposed to the government’s singular focus on socio-economic development to boost the living standards of the generality of the people rather than servicing the greed of a few.
These few are in blind pursuit of political power meant for their own selfish ends and which can only return Bayelsa State to the status quo. For those unfamiliar with the Bayelsa story of great restoration, the last three years have been quite remarkable in terms of solid achievements particularly in education, health, infrastructure, economic diversification, manpower development and a sundry other empowerment programmes touching on the welfare of the people. These are lasting legacies of the Restoration Government not ephemeral or transient accomplishments.
Essentially, there is a consensus among Bayelsans and outsiders alike that Governor Dickson has so far recorded a scintillating performance unequalled in the annals of the state. Ironically there are some who, misguided by a tiny fraction of the greedy elite formation, are not happy with the achievements of the government. Imagine such pronouncements like “Na road we go chop?” or “”Na bridge we go chop?” These are regrettable comments you hear from even among the educated. And when you ask them why they are not happy seeing so much development everywhere and you’re told the governor is not distributing money as they used to have it.
Indeed there is this sense of entitlement euphemistically called ‘stomach infrastructure’ and it is being seen as the right thing to do because that was the practice in the past. But how can the state develop when state resources are distributed rather than invested in durable initiatives that have real value for the overall development of the people and society at large? How long can any administration even with the best will in the world sustain ‘stomach infrastructure’ even for the minuscule few who are driving this stunted view of governance?
While physical infrastructure will drive development and ensure everyone is enabled to provide their own ‘stomach infrastructure’, the primitive sharing of state resources in the manner of apostles of ‘stomach infrastructure’ only ends in waste deposited in the toilet! And it is only a matter of time before they come back for more. Who can sustain that? To be sure, Governor Dickson had made it known to all from the outset that his administration would be different. Said he in his inaugural address :” We shall undertake fundamental reform of governance culture to emphasize transparency, accountability, due process and value re-orientation by all institutions and functionaries of government, beginning with my humble self. For emphasis, there shall be zero tolerance for corruption under my administration.
The days of enrichment without labor and funding the greed and avarice of a few at the expense of the development of our people is over. I will work hard to plug all leakages and sources of corruption which have been the bane of our development. I am aware that we will face resistance, we may be understood but we shall always do what is right in the interest of you the people”.
It was a future foretold. Evidently, the governor saw the current ugly developments coming because he knew how much critical values had nose-dived. A reformation and a re-ordering would be inescapable to have a sane society which can only be the basis for development. From carrying out the reforms he promised in government, building institutions and making them work by enforcing compliance, the quest for re-orientation has been a major success and a clear departure from the anything-goes situation the government inherited.
Just as the policies and programmes of the Restoration Agenda were being put in place for implantation, government was also cleaning up the Augean stable, enthroning due diligence and accountability in expenditure. This was not done by mere words of mouth but by the enactment of relevant legislation and living by example on the part of the new leadership.
This is why it has been possible to deliver on the free education policy of the government, why it is possible to regularly pay for WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees for all students and ensure the scholarship scheme for numerous Bayelsans up to PhD in local and foreign top rated schools are realistic.
This is why Yenagoa has become a modern state capital with newly constructed roads and the first ever flyover to ease traffic , why there are several roads and bridges linking the various communities in the state, indeed why people can now drive straight to Nembe from Yenagoa for the first time and why we now have the first world class diagnostic centre in Bayelsa State, among so many other uplifting infrastructural monuments and other life changing schemes and programmes spanning the state.
But political opponents would have none of this and are infecting the atmosphere with the benighted ideology that state resources are for distribution. For saying no, they paint the governor as a wicked man and come up with all sorts of cock and bull stories which are only grist for the rumor mills in the state.
Admittedly, this stomach infrastructure mentality is not peculiar to Bayelsa State but is a national malaise which, nonetheless, is doing a lot of harm to the cause of our development and indeed represents a tragedy in our political culture. This issue must therefore elicit national concern as it goes beyond the cynicism with which much of the public views the activities of government. It cripples governance and promotes the enthronement of robber barons in positions of power.
No one can pretend not to know or appreciate the level of underdevelopment and huge poverty in Bayelsa State which had over the years constituted a huge shame to the Ijaw nation. We have had governments in the state but none has had such massive socio-economic impact on the people as this Restoration Government. Yet there are people who ought to know better and be in the vanguard of championing the cause of development but who are instead fuelling disaffection and dissatisfaction. They instigate the populace against the government even on very basic, commonsense measures.
Why, for instance, should workers in the state bureaucracy feel bad over the insistence of the government on punctuality and presence at work violation of which will attract sanction? That government should pay your salary for work not done? Or why should the same set of people feel that the insistence of the government that the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax structure, a federal government law, should not be applicable in the state?
In another dimension, some wealthy Bayelsans who should use their resources to advance the living condition of their less-fortunate brothers and sisters are not doing so but only interested in throwing themselves around as “big men” in society and regrettably even doing greater harm by sponsoring hate campaign against the government of the day.
The poverty at home is not an issue to them but their selfish and inordinate posturing to gain political power and return the state to the past’s savage soul. This is why someone somewhere is going about boasting that he has set aside N15 billion for the sole purpose of removing the incumbent governor. Invariably, the crab in the basket analogy which doesn’t allow any of the crabs get out of the basket because they pull down one another down is apt. But at what cost to the society and to the people?
It is not about Governor Seriake Dickson but about the sustenance of the collective good of the people who are beneficiaries of the good works of the government. It is also about decent sense of leadership and acknowledgement that Bayelsa State has had a governor who is changing the ethos of government from that of profligacy and Father Xmas to the pursuit of the common good.
It is definitely not about a popularity contest but doing what is right and in ethical compliance with what leadership should be no matter whose ox is gored. Interestingly, even in the midst of the anti-Dickson campaigners, many actually appreciate his tenacity and purposeful leadership because they can see what the government has done with state resources and in fact the huge difference it has made in such a short time.
Importantly, now is the time for a collective action among the Ijaw patriots to see the on-going campaign of calumny as an affront on the betterment of the Ijaw nation. This is because of the pivotal position of Bayelsa State in the emancipation of our people from the yoke of poverty and degradation. It is time to come together as a people with common destiny to strengthen the Ijaw nation which should be stronger than any individual interest. It is all about the general welfare of the people thereby changing the mindset to think more of our common good. And invariably changing the debilitating culture and politics of retrogression to politics of true development.
Frantz Fanon has told us, “each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it”. Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has long discovered his mission and is working assiduously to fulfill it. The challenge before all Bayelsans and indeed all Nigerians is whether they are doing the same.
Article by Daniel Iworiso-Markson
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