Still On The Jostle For The Office Of The Deputy Governor Of Bayelsa State: The Need For Fairness 

GODSPOWER DOMINIC 

Since the painful death of His Excellency, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo Ph.D, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, there have been several arguments and desperate moves by different groups especially about the local government area that should produce a replacement.

There is an argument that Sagbama Local Government Area should produce a replacement since the late Deputy Governor came from Sagbama LGA.

There is also the argument of some persons who see themselves as owners of Bayelsa State. They are claiming it is their place to exercise the ‘right’ to choose the next Deputy Governor. But the fact remains that no individual can actually claim ownership of the state that belongs to all Bayelsans with equal stake.

When Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, the First Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, was impeached and replaced by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan his then Deputy Governor, no one argued that an Amassoma or Southern Ijaw person should be chosen for the position of the Deputy Governor.

The constitution allows the governor to pick his deputy from any other Senatorial District other than his own Senatorial District in the spirit of satisfying Federal Character regulation.

It will be recalled that Dr Goodluck Jonathan picked his Deputy from Ekeremor (West) and allowed the Speaker to emerge from Yenagoa (Central).

People should rather pray for Gov Douye Diri who is God fearing with exceptionally temperate disposition to be inspired by God to pick someone who is humble, largely experienced, God fearing and has demonstrated impressive and commendable strength of loyalty to leadership and superiors, while serving in public institutions.

Every objective and fair minded follower of
political development in Bayelsa State, particularly developments that led to the emergence of Gov. Diri as the miracle governor, may consider compensating Chief David Lyon’s team.

However, in all, Governor Douye Diri has the constitutional powers to make his own choice, especially someone that he will be comfortable to work.

– Mr. Godspower Dominic, a public affairs analyst, writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.