October 1 2011 will bring
another birthday celebration for Nigeria and Bayelsa State. The Nation and the
State shall be 51 and 15 years old respectively. Birthdays are generally times
to reflect on the past year and plan for the new year. In Nigeria this year, we
voted in a new government by an election that has been internationally hailed
as free and fair, certainly a plus for our democracy. The downside for the year
was the killings by "enemies of Nigerians" as I call them because you
cannot kill innocent people and say you love your country. We are onto a good
start in our Federal Government for this upcoming year- we have a President
that appreciates our country's major problems (power, education) and has prioritized
them, an Executive team with great potential, a National Assembly that has no
fear to carry out its duties, as can be seen from the team investigating BPE's
sales. As for the judiciary, let us hope the newly appointed CJN will rectify
the dents on the judiciary’s once stellar reputation, caused by the shameful mudslinging
we recently witnessed amongst these “supposed to be pristine” law interpreters.
In Bayelsa, there were
occurrences that gave us much hope - CDA STARS Project (the Bayelsa
Government's investment in the future of our children, visit www.bayelsacdastars.com) was launched
and is being implemented successfully, transportation (and employment) was
boosted with Keke Sylva and taxis made available to private individuals for
their use as commercial vehicles on a lease hire type arrangement. As an aside,
I met a lady with 3 children who was driving one of these taxis she obtained
under the scheme and she narrated how when her marriage fell apart and she was
left to look after her children, she had to provide for them from different
jobs including frying buns for hawking. She was filled with praises for the
Governor for making these taxis available. The commencement of the Brass
Shipyard Fabrication Project projected to create 2000 jobs was another
highpoint, as was the graduation of Bayelsan students sponsored by the
Government to study in Belarus and Thailand. We also received “Justice's”
coverage when the Court of Appeal ruled that the Governor's tenure will not end
till 2012 as opposed to the 2011 date Professor Attahiru Jega's INEC announced. Although the Governor was ready for elections,
the judgement was welcome as it erased all feelings of one’s mandate being stolen.
The dark areas of the year showed up during the political season when the kidnapping
and violent incidents increased and the recent cult activities in the State.
The upcoming year in Bayelsa
will commence with election activities, as primaries for the gubernatorial seat
will hold shortly, followed by campaigns. Despite the election activities, the
Bayelsa Government is poised to continue its work in project implementation, as
contractors have been mobilized and directed to complete ongoing projects. The
Government is set to launch a few of these projects including: hospitals,
health centres, housing facilities, amongst others.
Nigerians and Bayelsans are
asking for more and more milestones on the development ladder to be
accomplished urgently. Guarantee of good education, youth employment, power,
infrastructure development are some of the needs that comprise the cries of the
people. Whilst the shoes are pinching and frustrations growing, the efforts of
the Governments towards attaining these milestones should not be ignored. We
should not focus on the dark sides only and refuse to see the silver linings in
the clouds. The burden we feel from the loads of the problems we face cannot be
removed immediately. It will be eased off slowly until we do not remember it
was once there. How many of us remember the pains of making a call on analog
lines in those days? How about having to go to NITEL building to queue up to
make an international call? Now we have our digital mobile lines and those days
are long gone. Do we also remember how we used to fast and pray for days before
making a domestic flight? Today the fruits of capitalism and good regulation in
the aviation sector are being felt. How about the fact that it was safer to
hide our money underground than in the banks? Today our banks are being highly
rated internationally. Let us remember all these “developments” did not just
happen at once.
As we celebrate another year,
let all Nigerians and Bayelsans resolve to walk side by side with our Governments
towards the light of development. Let us resolve to criticize our Governments to agitate change
and not just for the fun of it or to incite others to act violently. Let us pat
our leaders on the back when they bag some of the achievements we seek and
remember these successes when the down times come. Let us believe in these
leaders we voted in and give them a chance to fulfill their promises. Remember
Rome was certainly not built in a day that is why it still stands tall today.
Let us unite not just in celebrating the birthdays of our Country and State but
in ensuring our development goals are attained.
Happy Birthday to Nigeria and Bayelsa. Congratulations
to every Nigerian.
No comments:
Post a Comment