Bayelsa Guber 2015: Taming The External Hawks
The political atmosphere in Bayelsa State, has been charged up ahead of the December 5, 2015 governorship election. This followed two major events, the latest being Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s declaration to re-contest on the plank of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the earlier rally held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to welcome decampees in the state.
There are indications that with the number of aspirants from the APC and the
PDP, jostling for the governorship seat, the political atmosphere will be
charged the more as the primary elections draw closer this month.
Aspirants, party
faithfulls and the electorate are already excited to participate in the
electoral process, until the end.
The interest so far shown by Bayelsans, in the current politicking is
breath taking. The development is a sharp contrast to some past elections
in the state, in which Bayelsans remained aloof and allowed a few persons to
foist candidates on them.
This is attested to by the large crowd that attended the aforesaid events
of the two major parties in the state. The series of critical and
issues-based political discussions held by Bayelsans in informal and formal
circles, including the conventional and social media, also affirms the
peoples’ renewed interest in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.
The electorate are indeed eager to take the destiny of the state in their
hands, and are poised to see the state move forward. As a result they
are ready to cast their votes wisely, this time around.
Bayelsans who were not registered as voters before, showed keen interest to register
in the just concluded exercise in the state and clamoured for extension, so as to make their choice in
December 5.
However, in order not to chatter the renewed interest and hopes of the
people of the state, as it were in the past, it behoves one to implore
external political hawks and their internal cohorts not to deprive the people from exercising their franchise. They should allow the political parties in the state to
transparently choose the candidates that will fly the flags, as well as
allow Bayelsans to freely vote for the aspirants and governorship
candidates of their choice.
This call is essential in view of the political antecedents in the country
and Bayelsa state. It bothers mostly on the ungodly strategy of
godfatherism, in which so-called kingmakers force leaders on the people.
Bayelsa State, to say the least, is one state that has suffered in the
hands of self-centered kingmakers. Such kingmakers and godfathers that call
the political shots in Bayelsa are within and outside the state. They have
dealt deadly blows to the growth of the state and the welfare of the people, without remorse.
As the current politicking is on, there is apprehension that certain
external hawks are on the prowl to catch Bayelsa like a chick and devour on
the spot, without fear. If newspaper reports are anything to go by, some
godfathers at the national level are dragging to install their godsons as
governor of the state.
Their intent is not to promote the interest of Bayelsans, but to protect
their business and political empires which are being threatened by the
current radical reforms in the nation’s polity. Clearly, things are moving
against them, so they are looking for alternatives.
It should be recalled that the external hawks, had in the past held
sway in the politics of Bayelsa state, to the extent of nailing a certain
regime in the state, with the aid of foot soldiers in the state.
This corroborates former president Goodluck Jonathan’s statement at
Governor Dickson’s declaration of intent that the Ijaws who allow
themselves to be used by external forces are the cause of the downfall of
Ijaw leaders and the ethnic group. He spoke from the experience of how
internal forces joint hands with external forces to oust him from office, as president.
Really, Bayelsa state like its rich sister states of Delta, Akwa Ibom,
Cross Rivers and Rivers states are usually the beautiful virgins that
external politicians rush to woo and devour. Indeed, some of the godfathers
who scheme to install stooges on these states, have always got homage
from the purse of the states, while the people
languish in abject poverty.
The negative impacts of imposition of leaders on Bayelsans are political
disaffection of not choosing leaders by themselves, lack of trust in such
leaders as well as the retrogression of development in the state.
Therefore, political parties and the people of Bayelsa state, should be
allowed to decide their fate in all the primary elections and general election.
The external hawks and their Bayelsa cronies should also jettison any plot
to impose candidates and governor on the people.
Earnestly, Bayelsans should shun the so-called godfathers as another
crucial moment of deciding who leads the state to the promised land, is
around the corner.
Indeed, the December 5, 2015 elections is one of the highest factors, to make
Bayelsa consolidate on the gains of the creation of the state. So, let the state
take its destiny in its hands, now or never.