Youth Engagement Is Sine Qua Non To The Prosperity Mantra– Comr. Olali

Comr. Saviour Olali
Deputy National President, IYC Worldwide has ask the Prosperity government to make industries work to assist to put food on the table of Bayelsans and it will also address security concerns in the state

After the initial boisterous activities signalling a new dawn in the relationship between the Prosperity Government and the Youth Community in the only homogeneous state of Ijaw nation, it appears the government has activated the slumber button. There seems to be a lull from the Prosperity Government towards sustaining the momentum.

From the outset of the Prosperity Government, the Miracle Governor initiated some youth friendly initiatives, for instance; the Diri Boost, Agricultural grants targeted at the Youth Community and other categories of people in the state, proposed skill acquisition centres geared towards building youth capacity and empowerment and also encouraging the youths on sports development, enlightenment and sensitization programmes. These lofty ideas handsomely proposed to productively engage the youths of the state are unattainably heading for a cul – de – sac right under the watch of the Miracle Governor. The Diri – Boost programme and other such lofty schemes are being rolled back and warehoused in Creek Haven, resulting in gloom, anguish and despondency in the Youth Community.

For the avoidance of doubt, the youths of the state are still committed to supporting the Prosperity Government, what ever reservations, discontent or dissatisfaction being expressed by some youths are their inalienable right, this may not reflect the opinions of generality of the youths in the state. However, the language of the youths in which I am an active participant is that, the Prosperity Government should create an enabling environment for the youths to thrive and take advantage of the boundless opportunities that dot the nook and corners of the State and Niger Delta.

The Prosperity Government inoculated hope to Bayelsans. Steadied the ship of the state and brought an aura of possibility – which has led to the revival and resuscitation of the Bayelsa Plastic Industry, that is currently serving as a flagship of the Prosperity Government, but the sudden downward trajectory of the developmental initiatives of the Prosperity Government, especially as it affects the Youth Community in the state, leaves much to be desired. The political big wheels and handlers of the Prosperity Government needs to go back to the drawing board, in order to arrest this obvious decline and lull that is so loud and audible that, even the deaf can hear and is also visible to the blind.

This administration still has the time to write its name in the sands of time. Over time Bayelsa State has been known and regarded as a Civil Service State, but the government still enjoys sufficient good will from Bayelsans to change the narrative. If the Bayelsa Plastic Industry can be revived and brought on stream, then the state is fertile and can accommodate more top notch industries and viable top rank commercial and industrial enterprises. The Bayelsa Oil Palm laying waste should be outsourced to indigenous business handlers in the mould of those that resuscitated the Bayelsa Plastic Factory. Equally, the Bayelsa Garment Factory with its first rate facilities is also laying unused, the Cassava Starch Factory and the Fish Farm in Yenegwe. These ventures if given a boost can generate thousands of employment and increase the internally generated revenue of the state, to enable Bayelsa depend less on federal allocations.

Bayelsans are yearning for a true, credible and sincere leadership. The Prosperity Government started on very fine note but unfortunately, governance fatigue and drowsiness is gradually setting in. With the monthly FAAC receipts and other sources of raising money and partnership. Bayelsa all year round should be a huge construction site, and a state that can guarantee gainful employment for her teeming youths. Bayelsa State is richly endowed, it is truly the Jerusalem of Ijaw nation. What is required is for those that hold the lever of government to put on their thinking caps. The Prosperity Government must not fail Bayelsans and it doesn’t have the luxury of time to engage in political brinkmanship and gerrymandering with those that hold alternative viewpoints or are seen as critics.

While, I commend the Speaker and Members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for the enactment and the Governor for his assent and signing into law of the Bayelsa State Livestock, Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Law 2021 for the purpose of ensuring a peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers in the state, it is pertinent to point out that herders are still roaming the streets of Yenagoa unabated. The State Livestock Management Committee headed by the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources needs to swing into action to curtail the activities of the Fulani herdsmen who are known across the country for brazenly flouting anti – grazing laws in almost all the states of the federation. Recently, their activities ranging from destruction of farm lands and crops, defiant and open grazing in sacred lands, butchering and infliction of grievous bodily harm on Bayelsans needs to be tackled frontally.

In conclusion, God has miraculously, given Senator Douye Diri four years to change the course of history of Bayelsa State. Whether he will go the garrullous way of the Restoration Government absolutely lies on him. As Deputy National President Of the foremost pan Ijaw revolutionary organization, I will continue to serve as the conscience of Ijaw nation, where necessary I will call the government to task and where it is collectively agreed that they are doing well, I will not hesitate to appluad them, but the Prosperity Government should realize that the clock is ticking.