Bayelsa State created by the Military Government, led by General Sani Abacha on the 1st of October 1996 had celebrated some Christmas right from the Military era when Military Administrators doled out funds to all sectors including the widows, the physically challenged, the orphans and the aged during Christmas/New Year which was a clear testimony of the spread of Goodwill to all sectors.
When the first democra
tically elected Governor, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter (D.S.P), Alamieyeseigha came onboard, he demonstrated open handedness to the people of the state at every state occasion, moreso Christma & New Year celebrations.
And that was also the norm with Dr.Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Timipre Sylva who during their tenures in office as Governors of Bayelsa State distributed various gift items to stakeholders in the during Exams such items as: wrappers, bags of rice, cows, goats, chickens, ampas etc; and extended same to even friends and well wishers outside the state.
But that was not the case when Seriake Dickson came onboard, Christmas and New Year was no longer the same with Dickson, it began to have new meaning which of-course displayed the high level of insensitivity by that Administration against the well being and prosperity of the Bayelsan masses.
It is on record that even when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was no more in Bayelsa State Government House as Governor; but was Vice President and President respectively of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he continued all that while, to extend his Goodwill to the people of Bayelsa by sending Christmas largesse In fact there was no year Christmas gifts did not come to the various sectors including our sector, the media, all the way from Abuja through our late brother and friend, Oronto Douglas.
The Media in Bayelsa State cannot forget the magnanimity of President Jonathan in a hurry; especially his Goodwill to the people at Xmas and New Year festivities.
The Year 2019 Christmas was a transitional one, fact been that there was an outgoing Government and an incoming one in the state. The PDP is outgoing and the APC, incoming.
Before the victory of the APC in the state last year, Chief Timipre Sylva as APC leader and Governorship hopeful of that party previous years continued to extend his Goodwill through his Media Director Doifie Buokoribo especially to the Media in the state during Xmas festivities etc.. The difference this year was that the exercise began and ended at the tables of some cliques of the two major parties in Bayelsa State. The PDP Government as alleged favored a handful of her diehard members while the APC doled out some funds and some items to be distributed which never got to their destinations as alleged..
What touched the mind of this author was the way and manner the APC leaders in Bayelsa entrusted with distribution of Xmas largesse were said to had suddenly forgotten the ordinary people who had elected the APC candidates David Lyon and Biobarakuma Degi to lead the people of Bayelsa.
Tongues started wagging as APC bags of rice, money and other valuable gift items meant for the people entered voicemail at the ends of distributors. That was a Christmas experience too bitter to Bayelsans, especially those none partisan electorates who supported the APC to victory despite all odds.
The incoming administration should take a sober reflection on this and ensure that 'moneticians' (those seeking opportunity to enlarge their bank accounts or build empires) with the welfare of the ordinary man be not appointed to play the role of the biblical Joseph to distribute amenities meant for the masses to themselves.
What therefore appears a looming challenge awaiting the David Lyon /Degi Eremienyo incoming Government to tackle is the issue of questionable distribution by assignees, which need not to be tolerated but nipped in the bud forthwith. It may also be of great advantage to the incoming Government and to the people of the State, if the error of politicizing every state matter by some self seeking political disciples who often misrepresent their principals be also stopped.. It is the view of this author that the incoming government should pay due attention to party faithfuls at one level and do the same to the masses at the general level.
It is instructive to offer a suggestion that, henceforth no self seeking persons be entrusted with the welfare of the masses and in project execution in Bayelsa State; so that the efforts at development intended for the state by the incoming Government of Bayelsa State may not be truncated.
