Bayelsa State: Time to get it right

    L K Solomon and S F Brisibe

  “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems.” 
- Ghandi

Following the recent judicial annulment of the 2007 gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva has exited the state house. A fresh gubernatorial election should be held within ninety days to find a replacement for Sylva, and this has already got every one struck with the ‘election fever’: the politicians are already scheming, and the Ijawnation forum buzzing with political comments and analysis. So this is an opportune time to take a critical look at the current situation.

No matter whose side you are on or your political affiliations, the reality is that there will be a fresh election held shortly and a new government hopefully sworn in at the expiration of the ninety days. So let us all concentrate on one thing: getting it right this time. Simply put, we cannot afford not to get it right for several reasons.

We must say though that we have been taken aback by the Yar’Adua government: it was almost unheard of before now that elected governors could be ousted from office due to election irregularities; so he has done well to give Nigerians hope that just may be things could change. And if this wind of change continues, then Bayelsa State cannot afford the next three years with a governor whose attention will be continuously diverted by any political uncertainty surrounding his government. Almost certainly this negatively impacts on the state.

Firstly, it immediately turns the governor into an uncertain leader, and good leadership requires the assurance of a degree of political certainty. Good leaders don’t do political uncertainty as it leads eventually to a relative lack of confidence. Once this develops, he becomes vulnerable to manipulation by not only his political opponents but also to any hypocrites he may have around him. Eventually developmental agenda may be pushed to the back burner, as he desperately struggles to keep his place and office. Resources that may have been channeled towards useful ventures may then be diverted towards legal fees, multiple trips to appease  political godfathers and party officials, and consolidating his perceived support base; finally it breeds the temptation to then misappropriate funds to himself ‘just in case…’.  Huge, and I mean huge, financial resources could be lost through these channels. In addition, if he is eventually ousted as in this case, then there is a lack of continuity of leadesrship, and a real chance of some projects being abandoned.

Ordinarily developing infrastructure in Bayelsa State is tasking enough. Not only is the terrain difficult, and infrastructure lacking, but now we have militancy added to the mix. So with the meager resources coming in (compared to developmental requirements), the last thing we need again is another leader in the state cramped by political uncertainty. This we must avoid by all means.

So the goal then is to:
  - elect a credible governor ,
  - through a free and fair electoral process.
This onus falls particularly on every well-meaning Bayelsan and Ijaw but also (because of the strategic importance of Bayelsa State) on all peace-loving Nigerians.

The political leaders within each party should now realise that the development of Bayelsa State far supersedes anything else and work towards the party being represented by a credible candidate. To do this effectively selfishness needs to be shunned and each aspirant judged on not how much money has changed hands but on probity, personality, leadership and other desirable qualities.

Our Ijaw elders and traditional rulers also need to be selfless and use their influence to ensure the right candidates emerge from all the political parties.

Once the above is achieved the goal is to then let the electorate freely choose the candidate they want; if this could happen then it sends a clear message back to the politicians that they need to keep the electorate happy through good performance to get reelected. Secondly there would not be any substantive grounds for political opponents to challenge the election results. This then leads to stability in government and the much needed continuity with ongoing developmental projects.

One way to do this is for those in diaspora to volunteer to act as neutral electoral observers. This is where the Ijaw and Bayelsa diaspora unions and NGOs come in. In addition to liaising with indigenous volunteers, they would also need to involve other Nigerian and international NGOs in the process, raise some funds if possible, provide some training and also seek permission from the federal and state governments. This is an important task we can do successfully and I believe will go a long way to reassure the masses, and deter electoral malpractice. It will need individual financial sacrifice, but if that is what it takes to help get it right then so be it. Ultimately, we hope this leads to an established network for monitoring general elections across the Ijaw states.

In conclusion, Bayelsa State is a delicate underdeveloped state with a very difficult natural terrain. This calls for a credible, just and politically secure leader. We all have to contribute and even sacrifice to make this possible now we have this circumstantial opportunity. A significant presence of neutral indigenous and international observers will go a long way in ensuring a free electoral process. But  time is not on our side so we need to start now.

Forthright is highly committed to this task and now actively seeking involvement of several other Ijaw Unions. The Ijaw People’s Association of UK and Ireland is already actively involved and will be coordinating this exercise.

We now have an online register for volunteers. Please click here to register.

If you may be interested in observing the election then here is the NDI Handbook: How Domestic Organizations Monitor Elections: an A to Z Guide to get us started.

We need further suggestions and have opened a Bayelsa State elections thread in our Niger Delta Forum section.

Thank you                                                               28 April 2008