Gov. Douye Diri Deliberate Efforts At Tackling Feeding Bottle Democracy 

WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI 

At independence in 1960, Nigeria inherited the British colonial parliamentary system of government.

However, the above changed with the introduction of the United States of America’s presidential system in the 1979 constitution that ushered in the second republic.

Sadly, a very key element was left out in Nigeria’s operationalization and implementation of the presidential system of government. For instance, the United States operates a true federal system where the component units and federating states control natural resources in each state and pay royalty to the centre.

Because of the above development, there is healthy competition amongst the various states.

Under the above arrangement, each state identifies areas that they have comparative advantages and then build on such areas.

The above healthy development helps each of the states to develop at their own pace. Each state embarks on projects that are necessary, not cosmetic projects that are forced or super imposed on them.

Another key area is the fact that component units in the United States enjoy financial autarchy (independence) that enable them to choose priorities.

The story is entirely different in Nigeria, where everything is centralized. Nigeria runs an authoritarian-unitary system where everything begins and ends at the table of the federal government.

This development does not encourage healthy competition among states that are very docile and highly productive.

It can be likened to a family system where privileged parents who have adult children who are productive, creative, highly resourceful, and multi-talented but do not allow them to work to earn their own living or exhibit their talents.

On the other hand if the parents allow or encourage the children to work, the child will be productive. They will not only appreciate the value of hardwork, they will also make enormous progress and contribute to the growth and development of the family instead of depending on whatever the parents can provide.

Every section of Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources, but since the discovery of crude oil and gas in 1956 at Otabagi-Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the whole country is surviving on revenue from crude oil and gas, while gold, uranium, lithium and other resources in other states are harnessed by individuals in those states.

At the end of every month, the 36 states of the federation gather at Abuja to share revenue from crude oil and gas and Value Added Tax (VAT) because of Nigeria’s mono-economy and her inability to diversify.

The feeding bottle system that the government at the centre is running has institutionalized high level of docility and unproductivity.

Gov. Douye Diri is one notable leader that is vehemently opposed to the above. As an outstanding political scientist, social engineer and philosopher king, who is not a proponent of feeding bottle democracy, he believes so much in diversification and productivity as the only solution out of our economic quagmire and stagnation.

It is that spirit of diversification of Bayelsa State economy that propelled him to embark on the construction of the multi-billion naira Nembe-Brass road, Ekeremor-Agge road and Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma-Otuan road.

Those strategic roads are linking Bayelsa State and Bayelsans to the Ocean where the vast wealth of the country and state are deposited.

Bayelsa State has the longest coastline in Nigeria that measures well over 203 kilometers. Lack of roads to access the ocean for decades have deprived our great people of unimaginable wealth and opportunities.

Bayelsa State has one of the best sand in the world for manufacture of ceramic, glasses, and others. The state has some of the best beaches and tourist sites. The government can build hydro-dams to generate electricity. The government can partner with fishing companies from Scandinavian countries to build fishing factories where they will smoke and can fish and other seafood for export to neighbouring states and countries.

The Ekeremor-Agge road will grant Bayelsans and the world access to the Agge Seaport that will create thousands of employment opportunities. The Seaport will lead to availability of goods and services and the reduction of prices of commodities.

We can not quantify the positive impacts of the excellent roads that our visionary Gov. Douye Diri is constructing.

It is our fervent prayer that Almighty God will continue to bless, prosper, guide, guard and protect His Excellency, members of his household and the entire ASSURED Prosperity Administration.

– HON. WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI
Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Media and Public Affairs.