THE fact that Bayelsa State is in dire need of development is not in doubt. It does not need the prophecy of a spiritual surgeon to understand the writing on the faces of the people earnestly yearning for development. The dividends of good governance have become a matter of competition among the federating units and there is no justification to leave the state behind in the comity of progressive states. The question is: how do we go about it?
Just as Williams Shakespear aptly said; “The problem is not with our stars but within us”. As rightly as that time tested statement depicts, it is a matter of fact that the problem of development in Bayelsa State lies with the people who are saddled with the responsibility to make tough choices of men and women who have proved their mettle either in the private sector or in the public sector in the management of human and material resources.
It is no overstatement to mention that Bayelsa is one of the worst hit in infrastructure deficit. For instance, given the low level of land and easy access to river and seas, Bayelsa ought to have the best drainage system in the country. Sadly, when it rains the hues and cries of flooding is the order of the day. Yet, water vendors continue to compete with pedestrians and motorists in the business of supplying water to residents of Yenagoa.
In the area of water resources, the state has a lot to take advantage of the marine nature of the state with water all over by converting this natural endowment to drinkable water and make it available for its populace. An ingenuous government can explore this as a major source of internally generated revenue by creating water rates for every consumer home. This alone can give the state a revenue of over N2billion in a year.
In other words, apart from providing social service to the people, provision of water is a veritable source of revenue to service other social need. In same vein, Bayelsa naturally ought to be investors delight with the natural resources that abound in the nooks and crannies of the state. The states comparative advantage in fishing and agro-allied business is one area that remains untapped.
In the area of tourism, the relics of King Koko who led the early resistance movement against white supremacy, the white man’s grave yard, historical festivals and cultures have remained undeveloped, which ought to be a source of revenue spinning for the state. To achieve this goal is a matter of releasing the necessary political will bearing in mind that tourism is all about celebration of infrastructure development, such as: roads, functional education, water and not sponsoredship events that end up as a conduit pipe.
The near absence of internal roads and other critical infrastructure befitting of Yenagoa, the state capital also deserves attention. How many investors and international tourists can be attracted to the state in the face of these glaring infrastructure deficits? The earlier Bayelsans tell themselves some of these grim home truths the better for the state as a people. It is against this background, the 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State will mark a turning point of taking hard decisions by the electorate.
The people must realize that politics is all about ideas to develop the people, and not selling ones conscience by jumping at dangling carots, only to suffer four years of self inflicted pains of misrule. This is why 2019, provides yet another opportunity to make a clean break by charting a new path to the recovery of the great human and material potentials that abound in the state. Few weeks ago, a random sample on Bayelsa was conducted for the electorates to make their choices.
The response was positive and unanimous that Bayelsa needs a young, visionary and brand new tested manager of resources to steer the ship of state come 2019. Few weeks back, this author read with delight a trending post in the social media where some progressive elements with the development of Bayelsa at heart, called on one Mr. Keniebi OKoko to take a short at the 2019 governorship election in the state.
The call which came on the heels of despair clearly dotted on the faces of Bayelsans across the state was a thing of surprise to many who fairly know Mr. Keniebi Okoko. It was like a call on Apostle Paul to come over to Mecedonia to spread the gospel of truth to liberate the people of Bayelsa State. It was amazing when the author read the wide-spread reactions the post received which clearly points to the fact that 2019 is a year of paradigon shift towards embracing managers of human resources to pilot the affairs of the state.
Vast majority of the opinionists expressed their unreserved confidence in Mr. Okoko whom they believe represents the dream, aspirations and new future of Bayelsa State.
When the name Okoko was mentioned it evoked curiosity. It is a house-hold name not only in Bayelsa State, but also in the whole of the Izon nation and the rest of the world.
Professor Kimse Okoko is a renowned political scientist, one time Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and former President of the foremost pan Izon nationalist organization, known as Izon National Congress, INC.
Professor Okoko is a moralist and has been a strong advocate of good governance in Nigeria. As Commissioner for Lands and House in old Rivers State he left behind unprecedented record of unblemished service, the same way he served the University of Port-Harcourt as one of the pioneer lecturers of the institution. However, this time around it is not Okoko the professor, it is Okoko junior his son.
Coming from a background of high moral values and discipline for public office, Mr. Keniebi Okoko, son of professor Kimse Okoko, the Gbarian-Ekpetiama born business mogul has what it takes to lead the state to the promised land if given the opportunity. That is why the recent call on him to throw his hat into the gubernatorial ring. The young and dynamic Okoko junior is not afraid of taking decisions. When his professor father wanted him to have a place in the academia to teach, the young Okoko took a contrary decision. Close associates described him as bookworm, kind hearted and transparent.
First, he capped up his academy resume with a degree in political science at the renowned Carlton University in addition to his degree in economics. His quest for multidiscipline background is essentially to widen his intellectual horizon and world view, to enable him tackle emerging challenges from the broad spectrum. Second, he ran several trainings at the prestigious Harvard Business School ranging from leadership programmes to financial management at senior executive level. The trainings equipped him later in his chosen career of the murky water of business.
Worried by the army of unemployed youths in the streets, the young Keniebi Okoko, fondly called “Ken” by his associates felt, he would touch many lives much more in doing business, than being confined to the academic world. Armed with this vision, it was not a surprise when he emerged as the founder and Group Chief Executive of KDI Group of Companies; with a diversified and strategic investment in oil and gas, aAgriculture, Infrastructure, Engineering procurement, civil construction, marine and dredging.
Flashing back at his business journey so far he has no cause to regret for veering into business. Today, he has offered employment to 120 Nigerians working in his company in fulfillment of his dream. According to the Chief Executive of KDI Mr. Okoko, “I’ve been driven by divine vision; I’ve no regret over my decision to do business. My vision is to use my business platform to touch as many lives as possible. My vision is to create one million jobs in the next five years”.
Expressing dismay during a chat with the media over the drought of Independent power project in Bayelsa State, Mr. Okoko said: “It aches my belly anytime I come into Bayelsa to relax the epileptic power supply from only one source, that is the PHED Company”. With a purposeful government, we can fix the power sector for Bayelsa with a relative population of less than 2million people.It is a matter of setting priority and power sector ought to be top on the priority. Once that critical sector is fixed industries and other serious investors will come in naturally. We can’t continue to waste resources in the name of searching for investors abroad. We just need to constructively put in place an enabling business climate and the multiplier benefits will trickle in such as industries, employment and so on. The time to create a new future for Bayelsa is now. We can achieve these laudable ideas only when we extend hands of fellowship, spirit of unity of purpose, spirit to forgive one another”.
Moreover, recent experience has proved in leadership selection process that the world is moving fast towards generational shift within the age bracket of youths with vision and possessing the requisite professional foundation. Keniebi Okoko, the 39 year old consummate gentleman, urbane, exposed, consummate entrepreneur rightly fits into this mould.According to a Yenagoa based public commentator, Mr. Abule Richman; “The 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State is a contest in which the youths will be placed on trial.
It is time to quarantine the old political war horses and actualize the generational shift in youth leadership which have transformed many nations. The days of idolizing spent forces are over”.
Bayelsa state is endowed with several men and women with transformational ideas. The year 2019 is certainly a year to get it right.
- Tariye writes from Yenagoa.
