Dear Governor Douye Diri, allow me to congratulate you on yet another democracy day anniversary. As you very well know, since the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria celebrated the golden tenets of democracy on 29 May every year. Even if the date was rescheduled to June 12, as late President Muhammadu Buhari saw fit to do, the essence remains intact, the emphasis on what is good for a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria. The dividends of democracy should reach one and all in a nation governed by the rule of law.
May I also bring to your notice that a new non-governmental organisation called The Destiny Movement, (TDM) has emerged in Nembe. Its singular mandate is to push for the next Governor of Bayelsa State to emerge from Bayelsa East senatorial district. According to a statement signed by Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, pointsman of the new pressure group, it is time for Nembe to produce the next governor of the state. In the famous words of President Bola Tinubu, it is emi lo kan for Nembe Local Government Area. It is the turn of a son of Nembe Kingdom to emerge as the next Governor of Bayelsa. All things being equal, he shall be your successor.
The press statement in question cites an evident historical verity to the effect that, at the dawn of democracy in our beloved state, Bayelsa Central began the race, as represented by Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who handed the baton over to Bayelsa East as represented by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Timipre Sylva, after which Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West ruled for all of eight years, before handing the baton over to Bayelsa Central again, as currently represented by Diri.
It falls to reason, therefore, that the next Governor of Bayelsa State shall come from Bayelsa East, with particular respect to Nembe. What else is fairness and parity all about? What else is equality all about? What does it mean to be a stakeholder, to be a brother at a round conference table full of saucers and tea-cups? If indeed a rotational arrangement is being followed, as is evident from the foregoing account, who is trying to stop the revolution of the sun?
Basic geography teaches that the sun rises from the east, and sets in the west. What is the point of attempting to change the course of the sun? Melford Okilo himself would smirk at the very suggestion that someone is trying to upset the established template. Even Alamieyeseigha would summon a huge frown on his face to hear that anybody was trying to alter the arrangement. Governance, like life, is an open stage. Let each one have a chance to strut upon it. Let each party at the table get a go at the assignment of putting things right in Bayelsa State.
Dickson did a great job across a two-term tenure of eight years. You are doing a great job in your second tenure as well. Like every discerning citizen of the land, I cannot stop applauding you for the definite strides your government has taken with regard to connecting the three senatorial districts by road. In the eyes of every Nembe man and woman, your courage in embarking upon the Nembe-Brass road will always be counted as heroic.
What remains indisputable, however, is that your tenure in office will come to an end on 14 February 2028. You will leave office as Governor of Bayelsa State with colourful plaudits to your name, and I will be there to celebrate your achievements alongside other well-meaning sons and daughters of Bayelsa State. We shall hail you yet again for embarking upon the singular dream of our forefathers, to connect all three senatorial districts by road, and for bringing that dream to fruition. We shall clap for you with particular regard to the Nembe-Brass Road.
But it is odd to stand in the way of history. As you and I know too well, Nembe is blessed with competent sons who can govern Bayelsa as well as any other senatorial district. What is governance all about, anyway? Alamieyeseigha would say it is a collective civic duty. The Governor leads the pack, and the rest follow. He surrounds himself with a precious collection of eggheads, specialists in various areas of endeavour, who can advise him on what to do in the best interest of Bayelsa, and it gets done.
Alamieyeseigha’s oft-repeated saying was that he would always bow to a superior argument. Anyone who could offer a better perspective was welcome. Like every collective duty, each of the three senatorial districts that constitute Bayelsa State should be given a chance to govern. It is the turn of Bayelsa East to step into the gubernatorial seat you occupy. Let justice, equity and fairness have their way. This is the argument before you this morning, Your Excellency. May God speak to your conscience, even as you consider yet again the grain of the submission made on the matter by the distinguished Senator, in the following words.
