INTRODUCTION

Bayelsa State is one of the most blessed states in Nigeria in terms of human and natural resources.

The state occupies an enviable irreplaceable and indispensable position as the state where the formal governance of the present day Nigeria started precisely at Akassa after the 1895 infamous and inglorious Akassa Raid where over 2,000 people, mostly women and children, were massacred by the then invading British military in a reprisal.

The second history is the fact that crude oil and gas was first discovered in commercial quantity and quality in the whole of West Africa in 1956 at Oloibiri/Otabagi in the present day Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

It is on good record that Bayelsa State because of the abundant crude oil and gas fed the whole of Nigeria and Nigerians for years because of government’s total dependence on the then newly discovered crude oil and gas. The above continued till the further discovery of crude oil and gas in other areas.

Unfortunately, despite the enormous blessings from Almighty God, Bayelsa State is still among the least developed states in Nigeria due to the faulty economic foundation that was laid by the respective non-Ijaw Military Administrators (Governors) of the state who were only interested in grabbing whatever they could get from the state and not how they could develop the only homogeneous Ijaw state and its people.

The above was the kind of state, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, the first civilian governor, inherited in 1999 at the inception of our contemporary democracy.

Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha further plunged the state into a civil service instead of redirecting and repositioning it into an industrialized state like other oil producing states like Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo and Rivers States in the South-South and Niger Delta region.

It is worthy to note that it was a fundamental mistake but it was not deliberate. As a matter of generally known fact, Alamieyeseigha felt that Ijaw people were very poor and could not measure up with their contemporaries elsewhere thus the need to empower individuals while industrialization shall come later. Unfortunately, after over 23 years of creation, we are still backward with our ironical designation as a “Civil Service” state. It is common knowledge that we have never started industrialization drive. Common bread bakeries, water factories were not in the state until recently.

The above mistake is likened to that of black South Africans during the inhumane Apartheid regime when the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) asked blacks to withdraw from schools to concentrate on the struggle for their freedom. Years after their independence, they are still experiencing Neo-colonialism and racism. Black South Africans are free but everywhere in chains in their own country because they only got political independence while their economy is still in the hands of their white oppressors and aggressors.

THE NEED FOR EMERGENCY BORROWING

I have never been an advocate of borrowing even though borrowing to build infrastructure and the economy is a general global practice. As you read this piece, America is owing China unimaginable amount of monies.

Just few days ago, the Nigerian government secured $3.4Billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with a five years repayment plan. This loan exclude others that the federal government is struggling to secure in order to save the country’s economy from total collapse even at a time most world economies are sliding into recession.

Here in Bayelsa State, I am very mindful of the huge debt profile of the state resulting from loans that were secured by successive administrations.

But whatever the case, we must face the reality that no state or system can survive without money. The question of monthly federal allocation may readily come to mind but it is obvious that the state is presently in mess.

Bayelsa State Wage Bill has risen to N5.2 Billion because of the accumulated cum backlog of pensions that were not paid since 2012 which Governor Douye Diri has started paying and Pensioners who were crying for years are now very happy.

Debt servicing, which is deducted from source is between N3.7-3.8 Billion, excluding other crucial debts that the state is paying which is about a billion Naira.

The above is the sad and very pathetic state our great State has found herself.

At this point, there is absolutely no way we can ground all state activities. Presently, we are like a drowning people in the middle of the ocean. If we do not make attempt to swim to safety, we shall drown but if we do, there is the possibility of safety and I see a brighter light in the near future with the positive steps that Gov. Douye Diri has taken so far.

The price of crude oil in the international market has crashed to the lowest in human history, thereby necessitating the present relentless move for diversification of the economy.

Miracle Governor Douye Diri has taken a very bold and commendable step to develop Agriculture which is actually the livewire and engine of every human society but was relegated for years thereby leading to total dependence on food commodities from other neighbouring states.

The state government is poised at harnessing the abundant wealth from palm oil, rice, cassava, plantain, fishes and other sea foods where we have comparative advantages.

We must realize that we are in a very precarious emergency situation and this is not time for blame game or destructive politics. The excruciating economic situation is not affecting only some political parties, segment or sections of the state, rather like rain, it is affecting all Bayelsans hence the need for collective efforts. All hands must be on deck to see how we can salvage our great state and people from the present economic quagmire.

RECOMMENDATION/CONCLUSION

1. There is no need for pretense on the need for borrowing to save the economy and our great people.

So, the government should as a matter of fact and necessity secure reasonable loan to rescue the economy from total collapse.

2. The Governor should as a matter of urgency appoint members of the executive Council especially now that the federal government is easing the Covid-19 Lockdown and Restrictions so that they can hit the ground rolling to save the state from economic woes and further disasters.

3. The Governor should not play Compensatory Politics in his Appointments. He should appoint credible hands that will serve the state and not those that would want to be served.

4. Gov. Douye Diri should appoint young visionary, proactive, innovative, creative, resourceful, and result-oriented persons into his Executive Council.

5. Beside outstanding fathers of PDP like former President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, and others, Gov. Douye Diri should reach out and also consult Chief Timipre Sylva, Chief David Lyon, Amb. Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, Comrade Paul Eris, aka, General Ogunboss, and other leaders of the opposition to get their contributions towards building a peaceful, united and prosperous Bayelsa State.

Finally, we should realize that the present Corona Virus Covid-19 and its attendant economic challenges is a great blessing in disguise especially to Bayelsans because Almighty God want us to do a detour from our present Civil Service status to an industrialized prosperous state. It also wants us to tape our abundant natural resources outside crude oil and gas.

Comrade Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, an Ijaw activist, writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.