*Task Bayelsans To Speak Up
From Eric Eweke, Niger Delta Bureau Chief
Publisher of the Niger Delta Herald, one of the foremost newspapers based in Yenagoa, state capital, Mr. Francis Dufugha, has berated the Assured Prosperity government led by Senator Douye Diri, for failing to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people in the state.
Although, he commended the state government on the prevailing peace and security being enjoyed in the state.
Addressing a press conference at the Earnest Ikoli Press Centre, Yenagoa, on issues bordering on good governance and other related issues, the publisher strongly criticised the government on the low pace of development and other sundry issues affecting the downtrodden in the state.
According to him, the media briefing comes on the heels of failure of governance issues in the state .
Dufugha ,stated that not much has changed since Diri came on board as executive governor of the state, rather Bayelsans are facing more harrowing ordeal, as they lived in a more difficult environment to survive.
He said, perhaps more worrisome is the gulf between the government and journalists as regards to the understanding of the social responsibility of the press. Adding that, the governor has an alarming disdain for the independent press operating in the state.
The publisher who took a closer look on the failure of governance and that every elected or appointed public official is temporary, said,.. ..”Bayelsa State does not belong to Governor Douye Diri. It doesn’t belong to PDP. It doesn’t belong to the APC. It doesn’t belong to political godfathers. It belongs to the people.” Stressing that,” The governor is only the current occupant of the Government House. He is a servant to the people.” And that, “When a servant fails, the master has a right to ask questions? That is democracy. That is accountability. That is the essence of journalism”.
On the Assured Prosperity performance, Dufugha asked, ” For years, we have been hearing the language of prosperity. But, I ask: Prosperity for whom? Where is the prosperity in the life of the ordinary Bayelsan? Where is the prosperity in the lives of our unemployed graduates? Where is the prosperity in the hospital? Where is the prosperity in our schools? Where is the prosperity in our rural communities?” Hence, calling on,” the governor to show us prosperity.”
He affirmed that the money acruing to the state didn’t commensurate with the human and infrastructural development on ground.
According to him, ” Bayelsa is not a poor state in terms of public revenue. We are an oil producing state. We receive federal allocations. We receive derivation revenue. We receive interventions. We have access to enormous public resources. Yet, all these years the ordinary citizens is still asking: What exactly are we getting from our money? Where are the industries? Where are the jobs? Where are the functional health institutions? Where is the agricultural transformation ? Where is the human capital development? Where is the massive investment on our people? Where is the economic diversification? We can’t continue to receive billions and present a few roads and buildings as though we have transformed the state. Bayelsa deserves more than that. He queries?
Dufugha, also blamed the untimely death of a veteran journalist Isaac Ombe, who died in a ghastly motor accident along the Sagbama / Toru- Orua Road axis, during the burial of late Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on the failure of governance, which according to him, an high personality burial of such ambulances and other medical facilities supposed to be on ground in case of any emergency but..”our roads remain death traps and our emergency response remains inadequate” Adding that, the Federal Road Safety Corps were also found wanting when the accident occurred.
According to him, he had discovered that the miracle Governor was living a lie.
Dufugha, also pointed out that a government which cannot be held accountable to the people will inadvertently violate other fundamental rights.
