NIGER DELTA, DEVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY AND THE EAST/WEST ROAD

Please tell the whole world if you know, why the East West Road is still not given attention by the Federal and state governments. The East West Road is the one linking Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Lagos, and the rest of the world and from the Rivers end to Akwa/Ibom, Abia, Cross river and to all the other states of the federation and the world.
'Thoughts are things', and it was thought of that, this very important road in the oil and gas producing Niger Delta Region and the South-South geo-political zone was going to be in the priority list of the federal government, but that sounds like a 'far cry' and it is unbelievable that this has continued to this day that Niger Deltans are well positioned to take decisions on what should be done and what should not at the national table of decision making.
The policies and priorities of the Nigerian government are so difficult to understand, because the national budget goes into trillions of Naira, under various headings with roads as one of the key areas to be tackled within the twelve months budgeting, and  don't forget the East/West road has always been a recurring decimal. And it hardly escaped being mentioned in our national budget speeches as one of the so important roads listed to be completed by the federal government. President Obasanjo did his best to bring Setraco to work on the road, but when some miscreants in the area came and threatened Setraco, the company confidently pulled out with the billons of Naira paid and the federal government with all her might remained quiet. When the late president, Yar'adua came he also was concerned with the completion of the Niger Delta, but for his untimely exit. But when Goodluck Jonathan become president it was like God had answered the prayers of the people of Niger Delta on the cries for development, and with the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry and appointment of a Niger Deltan, Mr. Godsday Orubebe it considered sealed, but yet the East West Road is still abandoned and the Niger Delta is yet to see the dividends of DEMOCRACY, the question is, where are we going?,

  

TODAY's MEETING BETWEEN NUJ AND PUBLISHERS

The meeting scheduled to hold today in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state between the Nigeria Union of Journalist [NUJ] and Publishers in the state is at the instance of the Chairman of the Council, Mr. Tarinyo Akono, whose vision is to reform the media in the state from unwholesome activities.
Last week Thursday 30th the first of such meetings held in the office of the Chairman who spoke on some unacceptable unprofessional behavior that does not complement the ethical standard of the Pen fraternity. Akono said he decided to call the Publishers to  meeting in their respected position as employers to look at the conduct of their reporters covering events in the state to maintain the respect the Pen profession had earned over the years. The meeting was adjourned to today, Tuesday June 4th for continuation.

THE RESTORATION PROGRAMME IN BAYELSA TREASURY

The Honorable Dickson administration has impacted in diverse ways the lives of people in different ways, and that was to be expected. Dickson told Bayelsans in a matter of fact way that his administration was coming in to restore the 'lost glory' of the state. That was a grammar too hard for every simple mind to understand.
 Dickson was sounding laconic in his expressions flying the kite of transparency in a dramatic monthly press briefing that was more of a public show unbelievable politico/financial maneuvers. The governor knew his people so well that he concluded he would lead them by the nose, and of-course he knew where he was going. Just after he took the oath of office, he started with the frozen of the accounts and had a quick or could one say an overnight control of the state treasury.
One very sad experience Bayelsans had with the coming of Dickson was that the money meant to pay their bills was used by the PDP to flag off his controversial governorship campaign flag-off  in the state.
And just as he took the mantle of leadership he went to the media through his media men to announce that people who had bills in the state treasury should apply for verification and those affected responded instantly, the announcement turned out to be a mere dribble on the helpless Bayelsans who could not withstand the might of the all powerful governor Dickson who according to his finance Commissioner, Mr. Iduatte Iyabi will not pay any bill until he had executed some projects. But that was just an excuse to push aside those who are at the mercy of Dickson and his disappointing finance Commissioner, Mr. Iduate Iyabi who became the finance boss of the state, because of his long years of service in the banking industry.
Mr. Dickson and Mr. Iyabi are the closest in the Restoration cabinet because of the purse of the state.
Most a time Mr Iyabi would spend days working in the Government House instead of being in his office, there after, he travels out to only God knows where either with the governor or alone. This situation appear to have turned the ever busy treasury building to a shot of ghost town or graveyard.
Mr. Seriake Dickson at the take off point of his Restoration government in his monthly transparency press briefings flanked by his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah [Rtd] and the Finance Commissioner used to announce income, savings and expenditure, on monthly basis that were most questionable. Most of the payment the government claimed to have made had something to do only with some externals as Bayelsans contractors and others whose bills were outstanding liabilities inherited by Dickson has been ignored for over One year and three months.
While Bayelsans are kept in hunger the Dickson Restoration government should be given a path on the back for carting away a whopping amount of N10billion in the name of opening opening offices in London and South/Africa in the pretense of wooing investors to the state. In view of the high handedness of the governor and the finance commissioner who claim to be acting on his master's voice, only divine intervention will put food on the tables of  those Bayelsans  whose bills were verified and yet to be paid, observers have said.
 

A FAMILY MEETING HAS JUST ENDED IN CHIEF TUBONAH'S HOUSE IN YENAGOA

A meeting of some members of the Chief Evans Tubonah family has been held in the Bayelsa State capital. Yenagoa. Because of the shortness of notice, it was not a full house meeting,but some sons and  daughters, grand sons and grand daughters attended while those who were not handy did not appear.
The meeting deliberated extensively on some pertinent issues that bothers on family unity and progress. Addressing the family members the Chief Tubonah in his opening speech thanked the attendants and commended them for  their timely response.
According to him, the meeting became so imperative because of some issues that needed to be addressed without delay, which include assessment in development, unity and love of the family , work ethics amongst family members and the way forward. First to speak was the mother of the family, Daughter Evans (Mrs), who highlighted some basic needs such as embarking on some development projects that would move the family forward.
The family also spoke amongst other things, home sanitation, beautification and some construction Mr, Victor Evans Diepreye Evans Ebinimi Evans and Idubamo were in attendance,while the elderly ones, Mr.Bomo Evans Ekipre Evans, Ayebalayefa Evans, Tari Evans and Onimi Evans were not bothered to be called because of the urgency of the meeting. A more comprehensive meeting is scheduled to hold in the near future on a date to be announced.

DICKSON'S CONTROVERSIAL FREE EDUCATION

On the 14th of February 2012 at the Isaac Boro Peace Park in the Bayelsa State Capital., Yenagoa, a new administration was born as Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson and Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah the oath of office in a swear-in ceremony by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri. in a thunderous crowd that gathered to witness the historic event.
When the governor delivered his maiden address, he announced one of the cardinal objectives of his Restoration government as FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION to all Bayelsan students and pupils. But since after Dickson made the pronouncement and pocketed the ovation and confidence reposed in him by  the majority of unsuspecting Bayelsans who never doubted a jot of the governor's word, the Free Education claims by the Dickson administration is like a mere talk, and a deception.
When the Bayelsa Government announced free education it was thought that BYCOE was going to be in the priority list, but to the surprise  of all, the schools are still  paying school fees.
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 Governor Dickson and Ghribiogha John Jonah should stop telling lies or deceiving the masses that they have declared free and compulsory education in Bayelsa State. Very funny and bogus is the claim on this free and compulsory education by the self acclaimed Restoration Government. Since  inception Dickson has been harping on even declaring a state of emergency in the media with bogus claims of running free education claiming to have done so much in that direction. The fake-ness of the assertion compelled even the compromised NLC/TUC in their May Day Address to the State Government demanded to know the reality or otherwise of the largely orchestrated Free Education, to which the deputy governor who spoke on behalf of government confirmed that they were doing fine with the Free Education Program me.
Why the public now see the whole thing as a lie and a deception to the people of the state is the fact that a State owned School in the State Capital BYCOE  is right now on School Fees drive. How can a Government  which drives out students and pupils from classes to worry and border parent that are poor for payment of School fees claim they are on Free Education. Any one who doubts, should go and find out. The Governor and  his Deputy should tell the public if the Free Education does not include BYCOE and others. Tell us  the Free Education schools, are they  only in Sagbama and Nembe? 

NIGERIAN PARLIAMENT A FAILED INSTITUTION

Nigeria a nation trying to move in the path of righteousness justice and fair play outwardly, but inwardly the opposite. How can a Parliament which calls itself National Assembly continue to live in the ancient culture of tribalism, nepotism, favor it-ism and all other isms that stands to divide the nation instead of unification. Every lawmaker is either thinking of his family, relations, community, local government area or constituency instead of thinking of the well being, peace and prosperity of the nation. The way the go about their business shows that the National Assembly does not stand objectively on such matters that needed objectivity.
One of such matters is the creation of State and Local Government areas. When it was glaring that some areas were favored more during the Military era with some communities having so many LGAs, while others just a few.The People of Bayelsa cried out to the National Assembly to increase the number of local government areas because they had just eight.
The Constitution of the Federal Government pegged the number of Local Government Areas to make a state at ten. Bayelsa was in a very high hope and expectation that the National Assembly was going to respond positively, but that was a wrong judgement, the National Assembly does not treat matters objectively according to merit, but whatever the goose need  the gander who does not need it must insist that if it does not go round with him the gander having a fair share he will not support that the goose be given the which he deserve, That is how they ended up not being able to create additional LGAs  for Bayelsa state till date.
When the National Assembly received the memos they politicized it to State Creation so that those at advantage will continue to be on top. It was all centred on selfishness, tribalism and anti-nationalism.
The Northerners who had the highest number of states and local government areas also wanted to have more,for themselves yet they call themselves members of Parliament. The National Assembly is a failure because they failed to consider the eight Local Government Area status of Bayelsa and create additional LGAs for them.

TASK FOR THE BAYELSA FLOOD COMMITTEE

The Hon..Henry. Seriake Dicksom administration is second to none if the subject matter has to do with the constitution of committees to handle administrative matters. Thanks to the 2012 flood that ravaged the country including Bayelsa State, which led to the constitution of the State Flood Committee led by the deputy governor of the State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah Rtd. That committee was pregnant with reports that caused the state governor to interject with threats against some government officials especially political appointees to shun corruption or face unpleasant consequences.
That committee managed to scale through the challenges, but not without some worrisome allegations of hording some  relief materials by those entrusted with distribution, who allegedly used their private homes and secret places as ware houses, while some opportunist who were not affected by the flood cashed in and swelled the number of victims at the few Rehabilitation Camps in the state capital,Yenagoa  and in some communities. The State government soon after the flood disbanded the camps which victims described as too abrupt and unfair.
Addressing the press in a media briefing. the deputy governor of the state, Gboribiogha John Jonah said government notice that the camps were being hijacked by some hoodlums consequent upon which the need to close down the camps became imperative. At that meeting the deputy governor gave kudos to the management committee for a job well done and the media for support.
At the exit of the deputy governor. that top military officer, General Awoye Andrew Azazi now late,  became the successor as Chairman to the Committee. Azazi died few days after his appointment in an aircraft disaster. But before his death some donations were said to have been made to the committee out of which the Globacom donation of Five Hundred Million Naira was of public knowledge,

then at that freak of circumstance, the state governor had to re-organize the committee, this time with Chief Francis Doukpola as the new Chairman, but since Doukpola took over the office total news black out had prevented the ordinary man in the streets of Yenagoa and the world from knowing what the committee is doing with huge sums of money in her coffers.except some closed door meetings at th Izon
wari. The worrisome aspect of the whole issue is that the rains had started, but the Flood Committee is not at site to assess the the flood that had taken over some areas in the state capital especially at construction sites of Julius Berger where road construction without drainage had sent people packing out of their homes.
If the State Flood Committee is alive, with all the donations intact, this is the time to give account of their stewardship.