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.

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Articles by Etete Enideneze