By CHARLES KUMOLU

NEARLY two decades after Bayelsa State was created through an independence anniversary broadcast by then Head of State General Sani Abacha, the mood across the state is still euphoric.

This was evident from the spirit of oneness that pervaded the entire state during its recent 17th year anniversary celebration.

The series of activities which attracted prominent Nigerians from all walks of life to the state, provided an avenue for a review of how far and well Bayelsa has progressed since its creation.

Despite being regarded as one of  the smallest states in the country, in terms of population and land mass,  Bayelsa is endowed with vast  natural resources. This makes the state a major contributor to Nigeria’s oil wealth.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Dickson… Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

It was expected that the oil wealth would have translated into overwhelming prosperity, but some past administrators have been accused of not using the oil proceeds to transform the state into the Glory Land it was meant to be.

Vanguard Features,VF,  however learnt that a new Bayelsa is being created from the creeks of the Niger Delta. This must have informed the euphoria that greeted the well-attended  anniversary celebrations.  ‘’Yes I am proud to be a Beyelsan and an Ijaw man. This state is a legacy that every Ijaw person must help to grow in every facet. Without malice to past administrations, this government is creating a new Bayelsa. You can see I am here in Government House not as an official but as a concerned indigene to celebrate Bayelsa at 17,’’ an excited Ebiere Markson told VF.

The high point of the anniversary celebrations was a public lecture convened by the state government.

Legacy for every Ijaw person

Those at the lecture entitled: “Good Governance as a Panacea for Promoting a Stable and Sustainable Democracy”, included former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’Abba; former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Chief Diete Spiff; Dr. Edmund Daukoru; Rear- Admiral John Jonah (retd.); Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Konbowei Friday and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri.  Na’Abba who chaired what turned out to be a robust debate on how best to deepen democracy,  observed that the choice of the topic was in line with the fact that Governor Dickson is a firm believer in the power of democracy.

He posited that every democracy must not be lacking in legitimacy, direction, performance, accountability and fairness. These, he noted translate into good governance.  Quoting the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, he said: “Good governance is the palm kernel with which democracy is eaten. Any democracy without good governance is only democracy in nomenclature.  By good governance, it is meant that the state operators are providing their citizens with what is generally referred to as the dividends of democracy,” he said.

The former Speaker, who could not hide his admiration for the various ongoing developmental projects in the state, punctured the general assumption in Nigeria that dividends of democracy involve provision of potable water, food, good roads or electricity.

‘’Dividend of democracy is neither the provision of potable water, food, good roads, electricity or any of such. These categories are just a small tip of the iceberg. According to the United Nations Development Program,UNDP, good governance has five main universal principles. These are legitimacy, direction , performance, accountability and fairness,’’ he explained.

Town hall meetings

These principles, he said, are evident in the manner the state is being governed. Backing his argument with examples, Na’Abba said: ‘’Many times since you were elected, Nigerians have watched with keen interest how you organise town hall meetings where you discuss the problems of your state with the public with a view to reaching a consensus on issues relating to governance. Through this mechanism, you have been able to establish political stability in Bayelsa.’’

Chief Babatope who was the guest speaker, noted thus: “If we have not effectively ensured that the democratic, constitutional and religious rights of Nigerians are very well respected and protected under the administration of President Jonathan, our country would have succumbed to the machinations of the Boko Haram people and their sponsors”

Continuing, he said: “I hate reading ill-motives on any group of organisations or persons. I, therefore, will not accuse the Boko Haram people of allowing themselves to be used by some evil-minded politicians.’’

Former Anambra State Governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife also lauded Dickson’s style of governance. He commended the Governor for the transparent manner he had run the state since assuming office, adding that a government is said to be transparent when information about its activities are accessible to the public.

“Government is transparent when there is openness of access to government information-where the people/civil servants are open to citizen’s request for information. Transparency requires openness, communication and accountability. The government should operate in such a way that the public sees easily what activities are undertaken by it, and how the activities are performed,” he said.

For him, what Dickson instituted is novel. He regretted that during his tenure as governor of old Anambra State, it never occurred to him to convene a public forum to give the people an insight into the workings of the state.

Town hall meetings

The transparency briefing, which was held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House a day after the lecture, attracted Bayelsans from the various strata of the society. The forum which is held monthly, was the 16th edition. Addressing Bayelsans during the transparency briefing, the Governor explained that the much talked about €60 million loan is tied to direct aid from Poland. He pointed out that it is not a loan facility as being peddled by the opposition.

He described the  financial assistance tagged “Tied Direct Aid, TDA”, as interest-free and is aimed at financing the proposed Maritime Academy at Okpoama in the Brass Island area of the state.

Dickson stated that his administration is not taking any loan from any bank or government, rather the Polish Government has agreed to finance the proposed Maritime Academy and recoup its investment in 30 years.

His words: “The Polish Government offered to work with us to build a Maritime Academy which is like a university. We wanted a maritime academy in Brass Island. This State has the potentials because of our maritime nature. We want to dominate the maritime industry going forward.”

The Deputy Governor, Jonah, who made a presentation of the state’s financial position, said the gross inflow was N13.7billion. A further breakdown  shows that statutory allocation stood at N2.5billion; Derivation Fund -N8.6 billion; SURE-P-N1.5billion while the state did not receive any fund from the excess Crude Account and Augmentation for the Month of August.

He also stated that total deductions at source came to N2.71billion comprising a Bond loan of N1.2billion, foreign loans amounted to N12 million while refund of overpayment on the revised Excess Crude Account from 2008 to 2009 stood at N187.8million representing the 32nd payment out of 72 installments.