Bayelsa State: The Crux Of The Matter In Good Governance?

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Most people miss the point when they consider good governance within the context of democracy. The United Nations has already provided eight parameters of good governance. Among them six stand out. The first criteria is transparency, which means openness in the transaction of governmental businesses.

The second is accountability – that is keeping records on how monies are spent and giving account of how powers are used. The third is the rule of law, which implies conducting the issues of State accordingly to the constitution and other civilized values. The fourth is consensus-building – that is taking decision only after due consultation.

The fifth is participation, which implies that people must be given unfettered access to take part in the affairs of government. The sixth is responsiveness- that is for the governed to respond to the needs of the people within the limits of available resources. Without any equivocation, the Restoration Administration has met these criteria.

Good governance is not to collect allocation from the Federation Account and share among the political elites and sentence the ordinary man to poverty, Good governance is not about arresting people and killing them without trial. Good governance is not about keeping the people in the dark as to how much money is received.

It is not about including ghost names in the vouchers. Good governance is not about awarding contracts to cronies who collect monies only to abandon such projects. Good governance is not about taking bank loans and bonds and using such monies to buy up personal properties.

Under the Restoration Administration, good governance means prudence, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, work ethics, and value for money; it means completing projects with efficiency and conducting governmental businesses according to the rule of law.

Restoration is anchored on peace and security; a government where people rule, we do not build a Chinese wall to exclude people. Governor Seriake Dickson fulfilled his mandate to the people during his first tenure; he will fulfill his promises to Bayelsans before his second tenure in 2020. Bayelsa State has never had it so good in spite of the harsh economy.

Who is Creating a Climate of Fear In Bayelsa State?

As we leaf through the pages of history, there are more instances when tyranny appears determined to remove freedom, but in the end freedom prevails. Thetragic reality of the perilous times we live in is the climate of fear peoplecreate, which in turn breeds repression, mutual distrust and clouded patriotism as frenzied outburst ofemotion and insecurity.

In Bayelsa State since the Governorship election waswon and lost, some zealots appear not to have sleepless nights. Elections comeand go, so does leaders. Since Bayelsa State was created, Governor SeriakeDickson is the fourth Governor we have. In 2020, another Governor will be inoffice.

Leadership or governance for that matter is not as easy as a tea party.Here and there they create a climate of fear through robberies, a brazendisplay of raw force, sometimes engaging law enforcement agencies in gun duelsand invading the sanctity of the peace and security the RestorationAdministration has laboured hard to entrench. Bayelsa is the cradle of the Ijawethnic nationality – the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria.

The Ijawethnic group is fast losing her respect and pride of place because of theactivities of conflict entrepreneurs. In recorded history, the use of force,power and might is the most bizarre and the most ineffective means of resolvingconflicts. All the holy books abhor the use of violence as a means of conflictresolution. Almost all the time, dialogue, constructive engagement, compromise,and deliberately making peace have always won even during fratricidal wars.

No matter the grievances of any Bayelsans, it does not make sense for anyone tocreate a climate of fear for three reasons: no one parades a monopoly ofviolence; violence leads to retrogressive, as development only thrives in anatmosphere of peace and security, and the health of the Ijaw nation transcendsthe personal interest of anyone.

What defines us as a people is neitherpolitical Party, party affiliation, or the potential to cause crisis norpartisan witch hunt; what defines the Ijaw man is truth, honesty, a sense offellow-feeling, togetherness, a sense of community and cohesion. So who iscreating a climate of fear in Ijaw land? We can live in peace and harmony as people belonging to one common humanity.

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Articles by Idumange John