The plane shot into view, zapped down the full length of the runway, like an intrepid athlete demonstrating the speed with which Olubolade would work when he arrived at his duty post. Strapped to his seat in the Bellview aircraft, the Navy Captain took a deep breath as the aircraft finally dollied to a stop, and the pilot invited His Excellency to step forward. Olubolade had taken a cursory view of the airport from his privileged window cubicle, and seen the long line of dignitaries waiting to receive him.
He walked up to the open door of the plane, raised both hands in a friendly greeting before taking one step at a time down the short staircase. Already, a corridor of public officials waited to shake hands with the new Administrator. On hand to do the introductions was, Chief of Protocol, I. B. Theophilus and Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Agbiki. The formal airport ceremony began when new helmsman stopped to behold the young flower girl, Constance, standing before him, dressed in the distinctive fashion of the Ijaw people.
Olubolade handed the bouquet to the protocol chief, and took definite strides towards the traditional rulers standing in a colourful row. One after the other, he shook hands and nodded his acknowledgement to greetings. A platoon of cadets were already stamping their feet and waiting for him to inspect the ceremonial parade. Out on the tarmac of the airport, a troupe of ‘Egbelegbe’ dancers were primed to perform, and everywhere he turned there was a smile to be seen.
Olubolade was formally received by the Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Habu Daura, who was overseeing the affairs of the state in the absence of a substantive helmsman. The Rivers State government was represented by the Secretary to the Government (SSG) and Head of Service, Chief Ebenezer Isokariari and his entourage. Among the airport contingent were some top naval officers. One of them, Navy Captain Anthony Udofia, a one-time Military Administrator, was in charge of NNS Okemini.
Olubolade was led to the executive lounge of the airport where a mass of journalists were waiting to pop questions at the new helmsman. He did not make any outlandish promises, in spite of repeated questions about his vision for the state. He would simply meet the people, for a start, to afford them the opportunity of telling the government what they needed. He would pay attention to life at the bottom, and work his way up.
Before long, the long convoy of cars sped away from Omagwa and headed for Yenagoa. A civic reception was awaiting the new helmsman in the Bayelsa State capital. Standard Motor Park, venue of the reception, was filled to capacity, people milling around to catch a glimpse of the new Military Administrator.
It was a modest setting altogether, and Olubolade didn’t see anything standard about the motor park. Amidst a lot of goodwill messages, the cultural troupe filed out to entertain him with vigorous drumming and colourful dance steps. The famous ‘Egbelegbe’ cultural troupe of Amassoma was on hand to display ample talent.
King Joshua Igbugburu, Chairman of the state Council of Traditional Rulers, SSG Paul Obhuo, Commissioner of Police Daura and Olubolade, all had time to voice their individual perception of the state, and articulate their dreams for the future. Igbugburu assured the new Military Administrator that, with a committed leadership, the problems confronting the state were not insurmountable.
Obhuo spoke in like manner, while Daura dwelt on the peace-loving nature of the people, assuring Olubolade that he would be received everywhere with a ready hand of fellowship. Just when he was invited to unfold his plans for the state, a light rain began to fall.
He said: ‘I am not good at talking grammar. I believe in action’. The administrator requested the cooperation of the people in the onerous task of developing the state. He also enjoined all to work with him to ensure a hitch-free transition to civil rule programme.
By early evening that same Friday, Olubolade was at the temporary secretariat of the NYSC at Agudama-Epie to address the second-tier corps members posted to the state. The state director of the NYSC, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, was on hand to brief him on the various problems confronting the scheme in the state. The lack of proper office accommodation and a residence for the state director was a major challenge.
Ibrahim also appealed for the provision of a permanent orientation camp in the state, while condemning the rejection of corps members by ministries, parastatals and other potential employers of labour. Olubolade listened to him keenly and promised to address the matter of a permanent orientation camp in the near future.
The following day, the captain embarked on his maiden inspection of the national environmental sanitation exercise. He was glad to explore the territory he would be governing. The trip took him all the way to the premises of Okolobiri General Hospital.
The resident medical officer, Dr. Gbefa was at hand to take him round. The host harped on the many inadequacies facing the hospital, and the guest gave assurance that working conditions would improve over time. The new man took time to visit some patients in their wards, commiserate with them on their ill health, and cheer them up.
That evening, Olubolade chatted some more with Government House correspondents, maintaining that he would surely improve on what he had seen so far, and would do well to bring relief and hope to the people of Bayelsa State. Before he turned in for the night, he thought about his visit to General Buba Marwa, Military Administrator of Lagos State.
Before leaving for the airport, Olubolade had stopped by to take a few words of advice from Marwa, and to satisfy his curiosity about governance. As it turned out, he didn’t have to bother. Yenagoa was a far cry from cosmopolitan Lagos. The challenge before Olubolade was altogether different, if not peculiar.
