From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
As Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri enters his second term in office, the question on the lips of Bayelsans, friends of the state and political observers is: can Diri sustain the tempo of governance and agenda of development that trailed his leadership style in the first term?
Undoubtedly, the first term of Diri’s administration witnessed landmark achievements in different facets of the state. His administration christened ‘Prosperity Government’ has been superlative in the delivery of the three senatorial roads. The road to Southern Ijaw Local Government has progressed considerably. So also, in Bayelsa West, the road linking Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Area is progressing while the new road linking Nembe Local Government Area with Brass Local Government Area has been applauded by well meaning Bayelsans as commendable.
In the areas of human empowerment, his administration has been giving funds to business-minded people in the 105 wards in the state. The health, education and sports sector has also witnessed significant improvements. A new political culture has also been one of his high points in the first term. His peaceful disposition and inclusiveness in governance endeared him to many Bayelsans including members of the opposition.
However, as he begins his second term, the question remains: would Diri be able to overcome the tasks ahead of him to earn a place in the pantheon of great Ijaw leaders?
One of the areas Bayelsans and political pundits have listed for Diri to work on in the second term is the area of power generation. The power sector received little or no attention in his first term. The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) has been unfair to Bayelsans. In spite of the fact that the state has a substantial stake in PHEDC, electricity has become a luxury in the state, especially in Yenagoa , the state capital. While some of the communities enjoy power from generators maintained by oil companies and three communities namely Otuasega, Imiringi and Elebele enjoy power from Shell’s gas turbine, residents of Yenagoa area are at the mercy of PHEDC. Most areas in the state capital hardly have two hours of light supply for a whole month.
Political observers are of the view that the needed foreign investment would not flow into Bayelsa if the government fails to fix the power issue. They contend that Diri must make it a priority to follow through his plan on putting Bayelsa on the fast plane of development with steady power supply.
Diri, aware of this had during the recent signing of the electricity bill into law harped on the need for Bayelsa to have steady light by ensuring that the state sets up its electricity company outfit to ‘’ not only generate and distribute but also commercialise power’’.
‘’We have gas in abundance and we have no excuse not to have 24 hours electricity in Bayels State now that I have assented to this bill’’
Also in a New Year message, Diri noted that the Electricity Act 2024 is a game changer that would accelerate industrialization in the state.
‘’Our move towards industrialising the state has taken a giant leap with my assent to the Bayelsa State Electricity Law, 2023. This promises to be a game changer for our power supply, with critical implications for our industrialisation programme. Bayelsa State used to generate and distribute its own electricity until 2006. However, national regulations prevented the state from commercializing this sector.
‘’Recent constitutional amendments and the Electricity Act, 2023, now empower states to commercialize and establish market regulations. The State Electricity Law has thus been introduced to create a regulatory framework that addresses barriers hindering the efficient operation of the State Electricity Market System. The law aims to issue licenses to private investors, collaborate with existing franchises to expand electricity access in underserved areas, and enforce penalties for non-compliance.’’
The expectation in Bayelsa is that Diri would not abandon his vision for a steady power supply to residents of the state particularly as it is crucial that Bayelsa moves towards industrialization to drop the toga of a civil service state.
In the build up to the November 11 governorship election, Diri sought support from different segments in his quest to overcome the challenge posed by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Now that it is time to set up the government, there are several political IOUs that need to be settled.
Ordinarily, this should not be difficult in a homogenous state like Bayelsa but because the main preoccupation in the state is politics, there is a fierce struggle to get appointments. This is even as the general consensus is that Diri would need to change uninspiring members of his cabinet that gave his administration a bad image in the first term.
A pointer of the battle for political offices was a recent statement by stakeholders from Yenagoa constituency 1 comprising the indigenous people of Epie/ Atissa, hosting the state capital, who are demanding a fair and better treatment from Diri in his second term in office.
The stakeholders under the aegis of Equity Vanguard in a statement by Onizibe Samuel Asuefien lamented that since 1999, nobody from the Epie/ Atissa, whose land Yenagoa is the state capital has been governor, deputy or any principal officer in the House of Assembly.
Though it acknowledged that Prof Steve Azaiki was Secretary to the State government for 18 months under former governor, late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Chief Diekivie Ikiogha as Chief of Staff for a brief period under former governor Henry Seriake Dickson, it argued that ‘’these appointments are not commensurate with the contributions and sacrifices of Yenagoa constituency 1 to the development of Bayelsa State.’’
Asufien further argued that during the November 11 governorship elections, Yenagoa constituency I polled 24,441 votes for PDP, a figure he pointed out was higher than total votes of most local government areas in the state and wonder why ‘’Yenagoa constituency I should continue to suffer marginalization in key political appointments in the State.’’
The statement read in part ‘’The people of Yenagoa Constituency have contributed their lands in the state capital for the development of Bayelsa State, a situation that has denied them their full participation in sustainable farming and fishing, the main source of their livelihood. Bayelsa State should be fair to the people of Yenagoa constituency 1 by ensuring that important political appointments and positions in the executive and legislative arms of government are given to them in recognition of their remarkable contributions to the electoral strength of the Peoples Democratic Party and development of Bayelsa State.
‘’We call on Senator Douye Diri, the Governor of Bayelsa State to ensure a better and fair political deal for the people of Epie/Atissa by appointing its valued sons and daughters to key political positions so that they will in turn always show their love and support in the implementation of his policies and programmes.
‘’To do otherwise will be sad and disappointing but we know and trust that Governor Douye Diri will reward the people of Epie/Atissa this time for their support by addressing their pains.’’
Related to the quest for political offices is the succession battle which has begun in earnest. Immediately after the victory of Diri was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), politicians within his camp and in the opposition have already begun underground moves to position themselves to succeed Diri when his tenure expires in 2028.
Political observers have listed politicians from Ogbia, Nembe and Ekeremor Local Government Areas in the PDP as among those positioning themselves to take over from Diri. Also in the opposition are politicians who believed they worked to ensure Diri’s victory and now want him to return the favour by supporting them.
The activities of these politicians are likely to distract the government activities in this second term and it boils down to how Diri handles the situation that would define the tone of governance. Those he appoints into his cabinet and other key appointments as well as policies and programmes he unveils in the next few days would go a long way to validate claims of Diri ready to take Bayelsa to the next level or not. For now, Bayelsans are watching.