Like Yenagoa, like Dubai. Both cities were founded on nothing but products of necessity some years ago. And like the proverbial mustard seed, they have grown to become the envies of their neighbours.
The story of Yenagoa is becoming increasingly fascinating. Its foundation stones were literally laid on its pronouncement as a state capital 23 years during the days of late Gen. Sani Abacha. Many Nigerians (not just foreigners) would still mistake its geographical identity for northern Nigeria in the first five years of its existence as a state. Its journey to fame was that tortuous.
Bayelsa’s growth trajectory was not less tortuous. What has become a prosperous state in the name of Bayelsa was nothing better than a collection of fishing communities clustering along the seas but carved out from the old Rivers State on the basis of what many considered as ‘boyish’ expectation of the military administration. Tugging on with marks of its afflictions and hard-earned crowns, the state has become a beautiful bride. For young Nigerian professionals and artisans, the crèche is now ‘see Bayelsa and live’.
And for Bayelsa indigenes, who have remained grateful to Abacha for seeing hope amid despair and demonstrating sufficient courage to create a state for the Ijaws, the days of solitary are well over. Indeed, its time is ticking albeit so fast that its peers in the Niger Delta region cannot but see its glowing gaiety that has showed its true essence as ‘the Glory of all Lands’.
In the intervening years, roads have been laid. Schools have been built. Bridges have been constructed. Investments have been made across critical sectors. Those who have been to the state can confirm that construction, especially roads, is not a fanciful adventure. Without determination and purposeful leadership, nothing gets done in its geographical space. It is thus not frivolous to approximate that much of the development witnessed in the past few decades was laid on the foundation of exemplary leadership.
With its governorship election scheduled for November 2, Bayelsans are at a crossroad again. It is not a question of whether they should stick to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), which has had an unbroken reign since the inception of this democratic era or take a new wife. It is equally important to decide whose version of PDP they will adopt. Perhaps, the second question is much more significant for four reasons: Bayelsa is a traditional homeland of the PDP; it is ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s home; the current administration is generally acclaimed to have been successful and there is a general discontent against the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The groundswell to the PDP primaries speaks eloquently of the facts that political gladiators’ perception of the nomination as the ultimate victory. The forces and political interests are so enormous that one could only pray that ‘Beyelsans’ do not become the prey. While a study into the political horse-trading may amount to an academic adventure, unpacking the personalities in the PDP ticket grand plans is vital for linking promises with realities and characterizing the next phase of Bayelsa.
Here are the major individuals that will be participating in the PDP primaries on Tuesday – Kemela Okara, Timi Alaibe, Duoye Diri, Reuben Okoya and Frederick Agbedi. These men have not only held tight to their political turfs as the days go by, they have also become entrenched. They have also come along in the state’s political affairs well enough to have seen governorship slot as the ultimate payoff.
Every political actor is the ultimate arbiter of himself, and history is swift in documenting how this process affects the journey of man to perfection, the moral lessons therein and the overall gains for the society. This is the most probable lens through which the interests of the key contenders of the PDP tickets could be reviewed. Now, Okara comes across as a very important case study not only in this review process but also in the whole debate of Nigeria’s contemporary politics. Relatively new in the politics of Bayelsa, Okara, in 2012, contested the governorship race with Gov. Seriake Dickson on the platform of the Action Congress on Nigeria.
Four years later after the political battle, Okara, who lost to the current governor, honoured an invitation to serve as the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, a portfolio considered as the dearest to Dickson’s heart. He moved on to become the Secretary of State Government, a promotion Dickson confirmed was a reward for the exceptional passion with which Okara marketed the Bayelsa offerings to the outside world and for successfully repositioning the state as destination of choice for investors and fun lovers. And Okara, with the backing of his former boss, has pulled through to emerge as an aspirant to beat in the coming primaries.
The Okara storyline is unusually unique in this clime. And the rareness of this narrative seems to matter as much as the credentials, as a successful lawyer and advocate of justice of international repute, he throws into the race. The thought-provoking questions are: how was he able to swallow his pride to accept to work with his former political ‘enemy’ as a commissioner, taking into consideration the international brand he had built for himself? How did he work so closely with Dickson for upward of five years without suffering the ego bite that has become the albatross of the country’s political progression? How did he manage the crucial political party transition so seamlessly and evaded the usual upheavals?
Every permutation could be true but not certainly any that borders on unspoken personality clash with Dickson. That he was able to subdue his personal ego for the past eight years for the love of his people is a crucial point for Okara going into this race. His choice of campaign key message, ‘for the good of all and the love of Bayelsa’, is probably the most authoritative explanation of his political philosophy. And if Dickson is going outside old political circle for a ‘new comer’, there is possibly something much more spectacular about Okara than the rest of Bayelsans already know.
Luckily for the aspirant who hails from Yenagoa Local Government, his Central Bayelsa Senatorial District is mostly favoured by the party’s zoning arrangement. Come Tuesday, Okara will be adjudged by his performances as a commissioner and SSG. As a commissioner, Kemela Okara was able to articulate a clear vision to make Bayelsa a model of Africa’s economic success story. In collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), his ministry shepherded an industrial policy to leverage Bayelsa’s comparative advantage in oil and gas, power generation, agriculture and manufacturing.
An obvious success story of his tenure was the hosting of the Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum (BSIEF) in 2014 and 2015. Whether he emerges as the PDP candidate and proceeds to win the election or not, Okara’s journey back home will be remembered for the opportunities the summit has created for Bayelsa to unveil its unique selling point to the highly-competitive global investment market.
Still, there is no much one can say about Dickson’s Restoration Group without espousing the ingenuity of Okara. Inspired by the need to unveil a grand vision for the state and the Ijaw nation within the context of Nigeria’s yearning for a more glorious identity, Dickson has pursued the restoration agenda, for which Okara has become an intellectual caste, with vigor and almost commitment to the admiration of other nationalities. The mention of Okara thus reawakens the interest of the entire Ijaw in how their largest homeland transitions the agenda to successive administrations.
Weighed against history and the available options, Okara’s aspiration is seen as purveyor of renewed hope. But his option certainly rattles the old establishments who are also scheming and playing the sentiment card to sustain their relevance. Alaibe’s return to the trenches itself symbolizes the fight for the old system’s resurgence. What are the strengths of Alaibe coming into the race?
Evolving with the politics of Bayelsa and serving as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the late Umaru Yar’Adua administration when militancy became a knotty issue has endeared him to the ‘boys’. Secondly, he has a deep pocket, which matters a lot when viewed against the backdrop of the culture of cash-and-carry politics. Also, Alaibe enjoys the rare support of key members of Jonathan’s inner circle, especially George Turner. The extent to which these factors can go in delivering him is a function of the disposition of the critical stakeholders towards the old thinking.
Of particular interest is the fact that Alaibe’s aspiration does not offer a fresh perspective to the political dynamics. Come to think of it – he has been in and out of the PDP, a trait that may have reinforced the disenchantment against his brand of politics. And if he, against all odds, wins the primaries, it is not because his camp can connect with the new aspiration of the Bayelsa but essentially because they have learnt new tricks of playing their old game differently. And this will not likely happen.
Like Alaibe, like Reuben Okoya. Both of them are of the Jonathan political lineage with their legacies dating back to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha’s era. Interestingly, Okoya is going to the political battlefield with even more moral-bankrupt weapons.
For one, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate saga has been a talking point as far as his aspiration is concerned. While the aspirant may have put the issue behind him, it is not particularly certain the party is ready to take over that moral burden beyond the primaries and face APC with the moral cost.
Douye Diri, currently representing Bayelsa Central at the Senate, is definitely not a pushover. Diri shares a lot with Okara, a reason many political watchers say the interest of Dickson could be fluid in the coming days. He has the ears of the governor, having worked with him also to deliver on the Restoration Agenda. The governor may also be tempted to deliver him for envisaged political gains.
However, there is a snag. His inability to win the 2019 senatorial election convincingly casts shadow on his personal political sagacity and strength of character. Even with the popularity of PDP in the state, Diri pooled a mere 83,978 as against APC’s 70,998 to win the Senate. Both PDP and APC have realized that this is one election neither can win from the comfort of a strategy room. They need to be on the streets to touch base with the voters, an engagement an arrogant Diri is yet to master as a politician.
For the Bayelsa poll, the stakes are high for both political parties. It is also believed that the best will have the tickets though surprises have become an undeniable feature of the Nigeria politics.
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