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Tag: Bayelsa

  • When Ijaw pupils took on Soyinka

    When Ijaw pupils took on Soyinka

    On July 14, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. John Pepper Clark, Dr. Gabriel Okara, Dr. Odia Ofeimun and one of Nigeria’s finest historians, Prof. Joe Alagoa, interacted with over 1,000 students of the Ijaw National Academy, a special school run by the Bayelsa State government.

    The British-born Principal of the school, Mr. Charles Johnson, was very well the session was holding.

    Johnson said: “Very often, we can learn an enormous amount from great men. And we are going to hear from lots of great men today.

    “I think there is a real difference between the idea of being clever and the idea of wisdom. The ability to be clever is something you have all got.

    “You have all passed quite a hard and competitive examination to get here. You are some of the most able children of the Ijaw tribe. But the difference between being clever and being wise is the application of the cleverness.”

    Governor Seriake Dickson reminded the pupils of the rare opportunity of having the sages in their midst.

    He said: “Listen and learn from the wisdom of these great icons not just of our own country, but world leaders in their own right.

    “These great men don’t pay too much attention to mundane things as you can see. You have seen them. They live simply, yet profoundly. Living lives of great impact.

    “Today’s event is not for me. I am not one of these giants, but I intend to go back to school after my service and also aspire to be a professor because that was really what I wanted to be; to teach and write and contribute to the body of knowledge, but I am not yet qualified to join them.”

    Dickson went on: “When we were your age, we read their works and got inspired. They are here to talk to you and expand your horizons. My charge to you is to ask you to soar as high as your dreams can take you.

    “Many more presidents will be here, and you know in this great state, we also have a former president (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan). He too loves education, I know that. We have discussed it. At the appropriate time they will come and interact with you.”

    The pupils did not waste the opportunity. They asked germane questions at the event tagged ‘A Day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw Literary Icons”.

    A pupil asked Alagoa: “Do you have any specific time when you feel you should write?”

    “I think every writer should develop a pattern of work,” he said, “For me, waking up very early in the morning before others wake up. That’s about the best time for me to write.

    “As a historian, I do tell the stories of our people. But not in as engaging and clear and visible and affecting the different emotions of people like the literary people. There is a magic that they can bring to the story.”

    Alagoa added: “This is because the historian has to rely on evidence, something that has come from the past, to interpret and tell the story of humanity; who we are and expecting to give us some wisdom.

    “For example, our cultures are inextricably linked and joined and we find that we have relations with communities right across the River Niger up to Sokoto.

    “From excavations that were done in Sokoto and in the Niger Delta, even to Lagos and beyond, I believe our lives, our fortunes, our destinies are all united. That’s a story that we historians can tell,” Alagoa said.

    A JSS 2 pupil, Juliet Johnny, Stephen Praise and Ikede Majesty fired other questions.

    Johnny asked Soyinka: “Sir, what does it take to be a Nobel Laureate and how many books do I have to write to have the award?”

    Soyinka said: “I can assure you that it is not the quantity. It’s the quality and very often the relevance and finally the literary taste of that particular work. Because literature is very subjective and very often a lot that happens depends on the taste of any jury deciding on the work.

    “So, yes, it might be the quality, it is also the relevance, but ultimately, whether we like it or not, it is the taste of the jury which is deciding on the work of art.”

    Miss Praise’s concern was also for Soyinka:  “As a writer, what comes first, the title, story line or just a word?

    The professor responded: “It’s a very difficult question. It’s a very difficult question. Sometimes an idea sticks in the mind and it continues to gestate and you may even think you have forgotten about it, but it’s actually operating in the subconscious.

    “You go out and do other things, but one day you get the structure through which to narrate the idea and the two things come together. But the idea is (always) there. It may be at home or something you read in the newspaper.”

    Ikede Majesty, one of the senior perfects in the school, asked what has changed since Soyinka won the global award.

    “The answer is very straightforward,” he said. “Yes, and in a negative way. Very often I cannot do the things I really want to do because I have lost what is one of the greatest gifts, and that is anonymity.

    “It means one’s constituency has been enlarged. Your priorities change not because you want to, but because of the pressure,” he added.

    He went on: “Let me summarise by quoting Bernard Shaw when he was awarded the Nobel Prize very late in life: ‘It takes a devilish mind to invent such a destructive thing as dynamite , but it must have been a diabolical thing from hell who invented the Nobel Prize, and I agree with him sometimes , not all the time’, he added.

    On how he felt winning the award, he said: “It’s a very long and interesting story, though we don’t have much time. But let me say that it was totally unexpected and I couldn’t believe that it was happening and when I came back home was really when it began to sink in.

    “I was met at the airport by my colleagues, including JP Clark. And everybody got excited and that was when it began to sink, but then there was still something woozy about it at the time.”

     

     

  • NMA in Bayelsa pledges affordable, accessible healthcare service

    The Bayelsa Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Wednesday said it would provide accessible and affordable healthcare delivery   to people of the state.

    Dr Keme Pondei, the NMA Chairman, made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

    Pondei said: “In spite of the prevailing economic situation in the country, we have carried out a medical outreach at Sagbama Town, in Sagbama Local Government Area.

    “We also, this week provided free healthcare services to rural dwellers in form of medical outreach to other parts of the state.’’

    He said the association was not partisan and devoted to the welfare of every Nigerian.

    “We are partners in progress with the Bayelsa Government and we have hands of friendship with them.

    “We pray that as partners in progress, government and NMA will partner to review the healthcare system in the state.

    “There is need to urgently pass the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA) Bill before the Bayelsa State House of Assembly,’’ Pondei said.

    He commended the state government for reviving the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, saying that steps should be taken to join the National Health Insurance Scheme to achieve universal health insurance cover.

    Pondei said the association had met all its obligations in terms of meetings at the state, zonal and national levels, in spite of the drastic drop in its income.

    The NMA chairman said members of the association   were not just hardworking medical practitioners, but excellent sportsmen.

    He said the association came first at the Zonal NMA Games in Calabar in November 2016, and contributed almost half of the South-South contingents.

  • Our case against oil companies in Bayelsa, by Ijaw youths

    Oil companies operating in Bayelsa State should be prepared to contend with the anger of Ijaw youths. The youths have hinted of their plans to begin sustained protests against the multinationals over what they described as injustice done to them and their state.

    But the companies can avert the looming protests, which are capable of disrupting oil production in the country. The Eastern Zone’s chapter of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide said their plans would only be suspended if the companies looked into their demands.

    The newly elected Executive Council, IYC Central Zone issued the threats during its inauguration recently. The Chairman of the zone, Mr. Tare Porri and his executive members took oaths of office at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The police, Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies sent detachments to secure the Ijaw House and forestall possible breakdown of law and order. The pioneer President of IYC, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, led other past leaders of the council to attend the occasion.

    Also present were Ijaw leaders, a member of the state’s House of Assembly, Tonye Isenah, aides of the state’s Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, women and crowd of Ijaw youths. Porri spoke before the cheering crowd.

    First, the chairman asked oil companies operating in the zone, which covers mainly Bayelsa, to relocate their headquarters to the state capital. He said it was unacceptable that the firms had refused to relocate despite the directive of the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to do so.

    “We want to state here that all the multinational companies operating within  the central zone of the Ijaw nation as a matter of urgency, if they are willing to do business in our environment, must relocate their headquarters back to the central zone.

    “Myself and my team will stop at nothing to ensure that the multinational companies return their bases back to the central zone. Of course they have the Ijaw nation, the Ijaw youth central zone to contend with. We are ready to take them head on on this very serious matter”, Porri, whose point was applauded by the crowd said.

    The chairman said the youths were worried about the age of oil pipelines buried in the criss-crossing the state. He alleged that most of the pipeline had expired and required urgent attention. According to him since the pipes were buried after the discovery of oil in commercial quantity at Oloibiri area of the state, they had not been changed.

    He said expiration was the cause of most of the pipeline explosions and equipment failures causing oil spills in the environment. He said his council had the mandate to ensure replacement of corroded pipelines in the zone.

    He said: “Since oil was first discovered  in Bayelsa, in Oloibiri, the pipelines that are criss crossing  the entire central zone which they used in taking first oil from our environment have all expired. Even human life has an expiring date much less equipment made by humans.

    “Most of the explosion, most of the things that happen in the environment are not caused by  Ijaw youths. Ijaw youths are law-abiding, Ijaw youths are not fighters and we are hardworking.

    “I want to make bold to say that all the multinational oil companies that are again operating in our zone should as a matter of urgency commence the process of replacing all the expired pipelines across the central zone because we will no longer tolerate corrosion and equipment failure.

    These oil companies have a way of creating contracts for non-indigenes, for non Bayelsans, for non central zone businessmen and part of the enjoyment in the oil industry is through the pipeline arrangement that is why they are deliberately causing explosion in our environment.

    “So, my team and I are going to take on the multinational companies and ensure that all the expired pipelines in this central zone are replaced with immediate effect”.

    The IYC boss also asked the management of oil companies operating in Bayelsa State to either create employments and other jobs for youths in the state or face unrest. He said the rising unemployment rate of the youths amidst oil exploration and exploitation was unacceptable.

    Porri, said the youths were particularly concerned about an oil multinational, Aiteo Group, which took over from the Shell Petroleum Development Companies (SPDC) in Nembe Local Government Area of the state. He said their investigations revealed that the new oil firm had no indigene from the state in its payroll adding that most of the workers in the company were non-indigenes.

    He said one of the mandates of his executive council was to get the youths engaged in meaningful ventures and urged the companies to help in ensuring the peace in the state and discouraging attacks on their facilities by getting youths in their host communities involved in their operations.

    He said: “You are aware that Shell was operating in Nembe. Now Shell divested and sold its business to a private company, Alteo. But as I talk to you, Alteo which is a company that took over more than four flow stations from Shell has no Bayelsan in its employment data.

    “Therefore as a zone, we are calling again on Alteo, that if they want to continue doing business in this zone, as a matter of urgency, they should engage our youths and give them jobs. Otherwise, we will not allow them to operate in Nembe”.

    Porri further lamented that an oil well that would have been allocated to indigenous firms in Bayelsa when the zone occupied the Presidency, Ministry of Petroleum and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) was given to  a non-indigenous company.

    He said if the oil well had been allocated to an indigene, it would helped to stimulate the local economy and boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

    “An oil well that would have ordinarily been given to Bayelsa state governor, that would have improved the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of this zone was given to an individual, a private firm.

    “My message to whoever that has bought that oil well, Ijaw youths moving forward will not allow them to operate in that oil well until the property is returned”, he said.

    Elders’ Advisory Council

    The new chairman announced the establishment of the first Honourary Elders’ Advisory Council (HEAC) for IYC in the zone. He said the council was borne out of his desire to return the IYC to the grassroots in line with the Kaiama Declaration. He immediately appointed a former President of IYC, Mr. Mike Wenebowei to head the council.

    “You are aware of the fact that the Kaiama Declaration, was founded on the principle of the Ogbos and then of course the clan structure. Therefore, I want to use this rare privilege as the chairman of the central zone to set up the first ever Honorary Elders Advisory Council.

    “The mandate of the council is to collate data of all the founding fathers of the Ijaw youth council from central zone, all the chairmen, dead or alive, to enable us document their achievements and celebrate them,” he said.

  • Gunshots, explosion as inmates attempt to break jail in Bayelsa

    How did an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) get into the hands of inmates in Okaka Prison, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital?

    Six inmates, led by Victor Tekekuma (awaiting-trial for murder and kidnapping) deployed an explosive in a failed operation to escape on Sunday night.

    They blasted a toilet wall about 9.02 pm and crawled out through an improvised hole into the prison yard.

    But it was learnt they were stopped by prison guards and other security operatives.

    They reportedly ran to the massive fence with the intention to blow the wall with the second explosive but were accosted and arrested.

    It was learnt the state’s Controller of Prisons, Mr. Chiabu Chuks Victor, whose residence was close, called the Police Commissioner, Amba Asuquo, who sent a detachment.

    Director, Department of State Sevices (DSS), Mr. Segun Agbaje; Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu; and the Joint Task Force (JTF), were said to have operatives to foil the attempt.

    A security operative, who spoke in confidence, said the mastermind of the failed prison break got the IEDs through his visiting brother-in-law.

    He said the explosive was concealed in a sealed beverage given to him by his in-law.

    “The IED was concealed in blue band margarine 900mg plastic pack. The content of the plastic was scooped out first.

    “Then the powdery device was buried inside the plastic and later covered with margarine. It was sealed with a foil to make it look like a new product. It was smuggled into the cell as grocery. It is difficult to detect such things”, he said.

    He added that Victor later produced two IEDs out of it to blow the walls.

    Investigation showed that they were all awaiting-trial for kidnapping, murder and armed robbery. Victor Tekekuma arrived the prison in November 2016.

    Others are Korinake Mark (November 2016); Gideon Gbagbe (October  2016); Angiamene Alex (November 2016); and Daniel Abraham (June (May 2016).

    It was gathered security operatives shot sporadically to ward off possible pre-arranged external aides by the inmates.

    The gunshots temporarily disrupted the peace in Okaka as residents deserted the street and ran for safety.

    A resident, who identified himself as Destiny, said there was heavy presence of security.

    “Bars and shops were forced to close down because of shootings by security operatives. But nobody was killed and injured. People ran out of fear because nobody knew what was happening. But after some time, peace returned”, he said.

    State’s Controller of Prisons Victor confirmed the attempted jailbreak and said the synergy among security agencies  rescued the situation.

    He said investigation was on to unravel circumstances behind the attempt.

    “About 9.02 pm on Sunday, there was a loud bang in the prison yard, which attracted attention of security officials.

    “The response was immediate as the prison arm squad and other security officials  advanced to the scene. The about-to-flee inmates were accosted and kept in separate cells. They were six”.

    He said security agencies are trailing John Koko, who resides in Sangana, Brass Local Government; Tunichi Michael; Stanley; and Ebiogi, who are linked to the incident.

    The controller added that a device, suspected to be an unexploded IED was recovered and handed over to the police.

    “The prompt response of the Bayelsa Police commissioner; Director DSS, Mr. Segun Agbaje; Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, were instrumental to aborting what could have been a jailbreak”.

  • Police arrest suspected armed robber in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa Police Command has arrested a youth suspected to be armed robber in Azikoro, Yenagoa Local Government Area.

    In a statement issued to reporters yesterday in Yenagoa, the command’s spokesman, DSP Asinim Butswat, said a local pistol was also recovered for the suspect.

    “On July 21, the policemen responded to a distress call by a staff of Community Secondary School, Azikoro, Yenagoa, that some boys were gathered around the school premises in a suspicious manner.

    “Subsequently, plain cloth policemen were dispatched to the scene and arrested a youth, wielding a local pistol,’’ he said.

    Butswat said the suspect has volunteered useful information to stimulate police investigations while efforts had been intensified to arrest his cohorts.

    He warned the youth against criminality, stating that the command would not allow any persons arrested to go unpunished.

  • New Paris Club refund: What each state recieved

    New Paris Club refund: What each state recieved

    The federal government has released a State by State breakdown of another tranche of Paris Club refund of over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts on the accounts of States and Local Governments from 1995-2002.

    A statement from the federal ministry of finance said these payments which totalled N243, 795,465,195.20 “were made to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory upon the approval of the President on May 4, 2017.”

    Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Kano and Rivers states received the largest disbursements of N10 billion each.

    This second tranche of Paris Club refunds is a “partial settlement of long-standing claims by State Governments relating to over-deductions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation for external debt service arising between 1995 and 2002.”

    The statement added that Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun explained that these debt service deductions were in respect of the Paris Club, London Club and Multilateral debts of the federal and State governments.

    Adeosun noted that “while Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in October 2005, some States had already been overcharged.”

    The funds were released to State Governments as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and were specifically designed to support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thereby alleviating the challenges faced by workers.

    The releases the ministry said “were conditional upon a minimum of 75 per cent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for States that owe salaries and pension.”

    The Federal Ministry of Finance said it “is reviewing the impact of these releases on the level of arrears owed by State Governments.”

    A detailed report is being compiled for presentation to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as part of the process for approval for the release of any subsequent tranches.
    The disbursements are contained in the table below:

     

    S/N STATE AMOUNT PAYABLE (NGN)
    1 ABIA 5,715,765,871.48
    2 ADAMAWA 6,114,300,352.68
    3 AKWA-IBOM 10,000,000,000.00
    4 ANAMBRA 6,121,656,702.34
    5 BAUCHI 6,877,776,561.25
    6 BAYELSA 10,000,000,000.00
    7 BENUE 6,854,671,749.25
    8 BORNO 7,340,934,865.32
    9 CROSS RIVER 6,075,343,946.93
    10 DELTA 10,000,000,000.00
    11 EBONYI 4,508,083,379.98
    12 EDO 6,091,126,592.49
    13 EKITI 4,772,836,647.08
    14 ENUGU 5,361,789,409.66
    15 GOMBE 4,472,877,698.19
    16 IMO 7,000,805,182.97
    17 JIGAWA 7,107,666,706.76
    18 KADUNA 7,721,729,227.55
    19 KANO 10,000,000,000.00
    20 KATSINA 8,202,130,909.85
    21 KEBBI 5,977,499,491.45
    22 KOGI 6,027,727,595.80
    23 KWARA 5,120,644,326.57
    24 LAGOS 8,371,938,133.11
    25 NASARAWA 4,551,049,171.12
    26 NIGER 7,210,793,154.95
    27 OGUN 5,739,374,694.46
    28 ONDO 7,003,648,314.28
    29 OSUN 6,314,106,340.62
    30 OYO 7,901,609,864.25
    31 PLATEAU 5,644,079,055.41
    32 RIVERS 10,000,000,000.00
    33 SOKOTO 6,441,128,546.76
    34 TARABA 5,612,014,491.52
    35 YOBE 5,413,103,116.59
    36 ZAMFARA 5,442,385,594.49
    37 FCT 684,867,500.04
    TOTAL 243,795,465,195.20

     

  • Bayelsa showcases own development in new TV series

    Bayelsa showcases own development in new TV series

    The government of Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State will be re-launching its weekly TV program, ‘Restoration Series’ across four stations in the country.

    A statement released in Yenagoa on Sunday by spokesman to the Governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, revealed that the 30 minute audio-visual will be aired every Monday on Channels TV by 3.30pm, AIT on Tuesdays at 9am, TVC on Wednesdays at 12.30 pm and NTA on Thursdays at 5.30pm.

    Markson explained that theý program seeks to highlight the silent but epic revolution and developmental strides of the Gov. Dickson-led Restoration administration, adding that it isý coming back on air after several calls by Bayelsans and friends of the state, most of who reside outside the state, on the need for them to have a feel of the government’s remarkable achievements so far.ý

    He said without a shadow of doubt, the Restoration Government of Gov. Dickson has made clear progress in terms of enthroning a stable polity, public sector reforms, security, agriculture and revolutionary strides in education, health, tourism, infrastructure, youth and women empowerment, social economic re-engineering, amongst others.ý

    The governor’s mouthpiece used the statement to call on Bayelsans to religiously follow the program and get acquainted with what the government is doing with their resources in the various sector and continue to support its policies to better their aspirations.

  • Our vision for Bayelsa judiciary by new NBA Exco

    New leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa chapter, has emerged. It is led by a seasoned lawyer, Mr. Clement Buruboyefe. The new chairman and members of his new executive committee were recently inaugurated in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Other members of the five-man executive committee are, Tariere Egbegi, Vice Chairman; Somina Johnbull, Secretary;  Dienaworio Wuku, Financial Secretary; and Felix Okorotie, Legal Adviser.

    To the chairman, his new position was a dream come true. He was a former Publicity Secretary of NBA when Justice E.G Umukoro led the Yenagoa branch of the association. Having assumed the mantle of leadership,  Buruboyefa presented the vision of his new committee.

    He articulated his vision within the framework of the set goals and objectives of Article 2 of the Uniform Bye-Laws, 2016 of the NBA Yenagoa Branch. First and foremost, he vowed to discharge the constitutional duties of the Chairman contained in Article 7 of the law.

    The new boss promised to work for the unity of the bar. He said the new committee would work in close consultation with elders and past leaders to strengthen the unity of the Bar.

    He said: “We shall work hard to reunite the bar and bring back our elders, seniors and colleagues who have for reasons parted from NBA Yenagoa and have not been participating in the activities of the bar.

    “In acting as vanguard for the propagation of the rights and general wellbeing of the public, we shall reactivate and reposition the bar by making it truely virile and purpose driven. We shall be committed to the rule of law, warfare of lawyers and service to humanity.

    “The bar, as the conscience of the society, under my leadership, will always, after consultation with the exco and elders of the bar, release and issue statements on matters of general interest to the branch and the public. The bar will act as a gatekeeper of the liberty of the generality of the populace”.

    Buruboyefa also vowed to constitute an Advisory Committee that would comprise  the past chairmen, secretaries, professors, elders and most senior members of the bar to advise the new committee.

    On accountability and transparency, he said: “Accountability and transparency contribute to building the confidence of members of the Bar and the integrity of Elders.

    “Under my leadership, we will ensure effective and accurate dissemination of information on all the activities of NBA to every member of the bar and will give account of every money received for the branch”.

    Buruboyefa said his vision included solving some of the problems militating against the judiciary in the state. He said his committee would rigorously pursue and make case for infrastructural development of the official residence of judicial staff, court houses and provision of vehicles for judges.

    “We shall also make case for the provision of official residential quarters for magistrates and chairmen of the customary court”, he said.

    He added: “NBA Yenagoa Branch under my leadership will encourage the mandatory continuing legal education by organising workshops and seminars periodically to address issues of concern to lawyers.

    “The NBA under my leadership wil have a proper and accurate information and record keeping system. We shall open files for outgoing and incoming correspondences.

    “We shall ensure proper register of attendance of meetings, proper keeping of receipts booklets according to the years and payment of the various dues, such as Bar Dues, Welfare Dues and proper directory of members of the branch.

    “We will work with the Young Lawyer’s Forum (YLF), in consultation with other stakeholders to seek ways of of improving the welfare of the young lawyers at the bar. Our young lawyers and junior must be repositioned to attain the achievement of their higher dream in the legal profession and beyond”.

    He further asserted that his committee would work for the commencement of the building of NBA Secretariat and law center without delay. But he was worried that the bar in Yenagoa lacked an operational vehicle.

    He said: “It is disheartening to note that NBA Yenagoa Branch does not have a sound, functional and operational vehicle.

    “I therefore most respectful appeal to members of the bar, spirited individuals, corporate bodies, other associations and Bayelsa state Government to come to the aid of the Bar, to provide a sound, functional and operational vehicles for the branch.

    “These programs to be fulfilled are not only mine, but are also the expression of the newly elected executive committee of NBA Yenagoa Branch.

    “We can only but ask for your maximum co- operation and support to achieve them within the short period of our two- year term.

    “I will not be distracted and will always think NBA Yenagoa first. I will do more than members expectations in uplifting the bar”.

    He thanked members of the Electoral Committee for discharging their assignments honourably. He further hailed the immediate past chairman of the bar and his executive committee for their selfless service.

  • Bayelsa ANA boss bows out in style

    Bayelsa ANA boss bows out in style

    A prolific writer, Michael Afenfia recently bowed out as the Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors  (ANA), Bayelsa State chapter. During his reign, poetry poured in torrents to wet Ijaw land; prose cracked the endless walls of papers and drama was never in short supply.

    Afenfia undoubtedly proved his mettle leaving big shoes for his successor and first female chairman of the association in the state, Mrs. Bina Nengi-Ilagha to step in. The new chairman is the wife of Nengi Josef Owei, an author of many interesting and sometimes controversial epistles, one of which once got him into jail.

    The former chairman, an unassuming, soft-spoken and articulate orator wrote his name in gold. He ushered in an era of seamless literary activities, which kept the genres of literature burning in the hearts of the initiated and uninitiated. The period resurrected and resuscitated the works of art and celebrated accomplished writers from Ijaw extraction.

    In fact, fresh young writers emerged on literary stage; old accomplished ones got their grooves back and persons who exited the literary world came back with big bangs. Many award winning events were held to reward outstanding writers in the fields of literature. It was a source of motivation that wired literary spirits in the state.

    Indeed, Afenfia bowed out in style. He organised a unique poetic event that brought award-winning and experienced poets to Yenagoa, the state capital. The event, which was held recently, showcased literary talents in a deliberate effort to make the state a preferred destination for literature. A globally celebrated poet, Amu Nnadi, was made the focus of the event.

    Nnadi, whose latest collections of poems, the Field of Echoes, has been receiving global accolades, brought a team of budding literary talents to add colour to the Bayelsa event. In a crowded hall, the poets, who accompanied Nnadi from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, thrilled their audience with performances.

    But Bayelsa lived up to the occasion. The state had many talents on parade. Their voices wafted sonorously from the stage compelling their audience to listen in tranquillity.

    Nnadi shared his experience of how he rose from his dislike to poetry to become a celebrated poet. He also performed a poem he wrote to immortalise the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha. In fact, he was a pillar of motivation for rising literary stars in the audience.

    Indeed, the event, a Special Poetry Reading Featuring Amu Nnadi, was a memorable parting shot organised by Afenfia. The outgone chairman said the event was in line with his vision when he took over the mantle of leadership of Bayelsa ANA.

    He said: “When we took over, we sat down and thought of the direction to take ANA Bayelsa in the next  two years. Two things were prominent for me. The first was the ability to identify young talents and mentor them.

    “We have had a couple of events that involved children in secondary and primary schools. Only recently we got two teenagers from Bayelsa to represent the state at the national event in Niger State Minna. On that front we have recorded some measure of success.

    “The second thing was to make Bayelsa the capital of literature, the capital of poetry, prose and drama in Niger Delta. If we didn’t achieve that goal in the first one year or second year, we have accomplished it today with this event because we have succeeded in bringing out everybody in Bayelsa who is a poet.

    “We have even brought an award-winning poet all the way from Rivers State to be with us here today. It is worthy of commendation. But ANA Bayelsa will not take the glory alone because we have a lot of associations working with us”.

    Afenfia also said his leadership conceived the idea of building fun into all their literary activities. “We also dreamed of bringing an element of fun into what we do as creative people. Something connects us and one cord unites us and that is our love for poetry”, he said.

    He said the event was first in the history of the state. He said it brought all the poets and people with creative minds in the state to share their talents and pass a message that Bayelsa is a home of creative talents.

    Afenfia said: “Bayelsa is more than the negative that is sometimes portrayed about the state. We are more than kidnapping, armed robbery and the militancy that takes place in the creeks.

    “This is what we are, the talents displayed today, the messages behind the poems and presentations. It is the Bayelsa story that we are telling. A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated Gabriel Okara at 96 and people were like whether there would be a renaissance of poetry again in the state.

    “But this event has answered that question definitively. Bayelsa is blessed with abundance of talents and that is the story that we should begin to tell. People go to UK to watch football matches because they have created an industry out of soccer.

    “We want to create an industry out of the talents that God had given us. So that people can pay money to come to Bayelsa and watch these talents and become entertained, informed and educated.

    “We did a lot of things with young people. We had a lot of competitions where talents were mentored. Beyond the dinners, award ceremonies, those times we went to school to organise competitions for them, those times we identified talents and made them a part of us are our greatest achievements”.

  • Gowon opens N3.3bn Bayelsa Govt. House

    Gowon opens N3.3bn Bayelsa Govt. House

    A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon,  on Wednesday performed the official opening ceremony of the new Bayelsa Government House, Yenagoa,  built at the cost of N3.3 billion.

    On the occasion, Gowon commended Gov. Seriake Dickson for the development strides of his administration.

    “I must congratulate the governor on the structures that I have seen, especially on his new office complex.

    “I urge you to continue to do the good work; your commitment to development is for the well-being of the citizens.

    “To the people of the state, I must say that you have been supportive to the governor irrespective of the party you belong.

    “I urge you to always play the good role for the betterment of the state,” Gowon said.

    In his remark, Dickson expressed appreciation to Gowon and noted that infrastructure development were a priority for his administration.

    “We are not just building structures like roads, bridges but a solid and befitting infrastructure that will serve for a long period of time.

    “We embark on massive infrastructural development, especially on roads because we know its importance to mankind.

    “Finally, I thanked everyone, especially the former head of state and the entire people of Bayelsa for all the support,” the governor said.

    Gowon had earlier interacted with traditional rulers in the state at Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat in Yenagoa.