17/07/2023
Diri Has killed Governance in Bayelsa State
In my analysis of policies and programmes, I try not to be persuaded by sentiments or political demagoguery. I have made objectivity my watchword as it is the familiar practice in the ivory tower. I have also come to believe that good governance is all about fulfilling promises. It is for this reason that manifestos are written and implemented when such people become role incumbents. The past 40 months in Bayelsa State is the worse nightmare Bayelsans have seen.
Now, for the better part of 10 months the LGAs in Bayelsa State have no Chairmen. The 24 Rural Development Areas do not also have Caretaker Committee Chairmen. It is a statutory requirement for government to conduct elections but for some selfish reasons, this has not been done by the Diri Administration. The overriding goal is to pillage and plunder the Councils. An estimated N7billion has been funneled into undisclosed accounts.
In 2019, governor Douye Diri promised to revive the Bayelsa Palm. He could not fulfill this promise. He promised to revive and expand the Bayelsa Plastic Industries Limited. He failed. He promised to operate the Aquaculture village at Igbogene. He failed. This multibillion naira investment has gone down the drain. Diri promised to promote tourism. Now, he has killed tourism in the State. In his manifesto, he said government would aquire taxis to establish sustainable urban transportation. There are a few vehicles parked at the premises of the Banquet Hall. The are rotting away because nobody has put them to use. The Ministry of Transport has been reduced to Ministry of Keke. Even the Driving Academy established by the Restoration Administration has been emasculated. The Igbogene Transport Terminal has been completed, commissioned and abandoned. Sometimes in expressing my sagacity, I have been compelled to ask the question: Who has bewitched the prosperity administration?
Bayelsans know what has happened to the Ebedebiri Cassava processing Plant. It is another boulevard of broken dreams. Why has Diri abandoned the Drug Mart? The full operation of the Diagnostic centre will boost the IGR of the State. Why does Diri hate progress? Diri promised good governance but his high-handed zero- sum politics has led to the micromanagement of the entire system. In three short years, the IGR has witnessed a catastrophic plunge. Diri has completely abandoned the Yenagoa City Development Master Plan. He has killed the Water Board even though the EU invested $4million to boost water supply in Yenagoa. He has turned the internal roads into death traps.
Governor Diri cannot account for the stupendous Derivation Arrears. Indeed he has done a monumental disservice to himself, his benefactor and the people of Bayelsa State. Today, Bayelsa is moving like a ship without rudders and the pilot is as confused as the crew. The ship of state is navigating to nowhere because their is no compass. I feel very sad that our bloated expectations have evaporated into a puff of elusive smoke. What a clueless administration?
Dr. John Idumangi
