They Want Kegema State

Posted by admin Columnists, P Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

By Phil Tam-Al Alalibo, New Nigerian Politics – Dec 22, 2008

In the last several weeks, my inbox has been inundated with petitions in favor of Kengema State which is to be created from the current Rivers State. For those not aware, Kengema would comprise of what is mainly the riverine areas of Rivers State which includes ethnicities like the Kalabaris, arguable the largest ethnic group and others of like culture, etc. The motive for the creation of this state has been variously identified as the need for a political union amongst the people of the riverine and the need to forge ahead in one accord with a common purpose to further the noble cause of development. While no right thinking Nigerian would oppose grassroots development with the creation of state as the main catalyst, in the very context of Nigeria, I regret to aver that it has been a colossal negation of the very idea of development, a sure conduit for official looting, rapacious politics, naked display of power, sheer recklessness well garnished by crude political banditry.

While we clamor for Kengema State in the south-south and Adada State in the south-east and Ibadan State in the south-west, perhaps, it might be overly prudent for us to ask some pertinent questions; we may want to know what has become of Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Akwa Ibom and the rest that were created in 1996 by then so-called fiendish maximum leader, Sani Abacha? Where are these states on the development chart a good twelve years after their creation? How much development have they seen since their creation and how have the lives of the people of the state been improved? It is only in Nigeria that the creation of new states is inimical to the very ethos of progress and development – invariably, state creation in Nigeria means wealth creation for a few greedy individuals. Just look at the number of previous governors and their cronies that were indicted on countless counts of fraud and corruption,all leaving their states poorer and more desolate than they found them.

On my last visit to Nigeria, I had good reason to travel to Aba located in one of the newly created states of Abia and Bayelsa; what I saw, ,my friends, is better left untold. A city like Aba, since known for its entrepreneurial prowess not only in Nigeria, but in West Africa and the rest of the continent is nothing but a big refuge dump, a waste land and conglomerate of scum, filth and more scum. There appeared to be no architectural planning of the city, structures spring up in a zig-zag fashion, gutters go cluttered posing serious health threats to the residents and making the sights of the city nothing to behold, if not outright repulsive. One is left to ask, is there a government in Abia State, and if so, what is its responsibility to the people of the state?

I do not need to remind anyone about the sorrowful and painful case of Bayelsa where the speed of a snail appears faster than the pace of development more than a decade after its creation. With more than $10 billion USD at its ready disposal since its creation, Bayelsa remains a primitive enclave of mesh muddy waters and restive creeks, a civilization that pre-dates the stone ages. Even the capital, Yenegoa, after twelve years as the seat of power remains a poster city for urban blight and destitution, barely befitting of its status. It becomes an utterly vexing matter when one is reminded that Bayelsa takes in the second highest federal allocation after Rivers State of more than N10 billion a month; what then is the excuse for the state to continue its disgraceful macabre dance of desolation rather than waxing strong on the path of progress and institutional development? What we have in Bayelsa and in many of these states is misadministration by the leaders who continue to siphon and embezzle funds; we should note well that the creation of state is not the solution to underdevelopment, but rather the election of honest and God fearing leaders with vision and purpose, those who will develop all parts of the existing states so all residents and entities of the state become vested stakeholders.

We should ask ourselves, why isn’t there the clamor for more states in the US or more provinces in Canada. The answer is simple; the leadership of the US states and Canadian provinces for the most part is focused on development and providing economic independence for its people, thus, forestalling any agitation for more states and provinces. Even the province of Quebec in Canada twice voted to remain part of Canada essentially because its citizens feel involved in the political process of the country and are empowered as such to determine their political and economic destinies. Though Nigeria cannot be as developed as these countries in the short period of its existence as a nation, the same principle, however, can be applied.

As the Kalabaris and others clamor for Kengema State, they should advise all and sundry what they have done with Rivers state? How have they developed Rivers State since its creation in 1967 to merit and be rewarded with another state? It’s been forty years now since they have been part of Rivers and yet, the state remains seriously underdeveloped with poor roads, hardly any drinking water or electricity in the rural areas not to mention functional institutions. Until today, forty years after its creation, the people of the riverine areas are subjected to the wild torrents of the erratic seas that marinate the plains as they travel to their villages since there are hardly any bridges to speak of. And may the good Lord have mercy on your soul should there be any mishap on the high seas that may occasion a feeding frenzy for the creations of the sea of their human prey.

The Kalabaris and the other ethnicities that populate the riverine areas, unable to wrestle power from the ruling upland ethnicities in the state since the departure of the Ijaws with the creation of Bayelsa, want a separate state where they can hold mighty sway. Imagine such a rationale for the creation of a state. They say they are marginalized in Rivers State, therefore, a new state must be created for them; they say Odili terrorized them during his mis-rule, therefore, they must have their own state; they said they do not have a political stake in Rivers State; therefore, they must have their own state. While I am not opposed to the creation of Kengema or other states as long as such an initiative would enhance development and accountability and provide more opportunities for the people, the hard truth is, it will not.

Indeed, the creation of Kegema will hardly foster development in the Niger Delta Basin as the proponents avidly claim, it will hardly bring economic independence to the people as ought to be the case, it will hardly translate into jobs and educational opportunities for the people, but rather, provide opportunities for a few to plunder new state allocations that would come from Abuja, it would allow a 37th governor, like all of the other common thieves in the various government houses across the nation to have his share of the national cake, building mansions all over the landscape like the moronic, convicted, disgraced and cross-dressing Diepreye Alamieyesigha, Joshua Dariye, Peter Odili, James Ibori, Orji Kalu, Ayo Fayose and their co-travelers. It would occasion new political thuggery, in-fighting, killings and mayhem as we have seen in Bayelsa, Abia and in many of the other states that have been recently created. Rather than agitating for a new state where they would reign as kings and bask in dictatorial entreaties, the Kalabaris should remain in Rivers State and take on the political establishment, fight for their dues, bring development to the creeks and villages of the riverine. They should unveil their political artistry and master stroke, like the warriors and gladiators they are until such time when the creation of a new state would truly mean grassroots development, accountable leadership and the provision of various opportunities for the people.

n the last several weeks, my inbox has been inundated with petitions in favor of Kengema State which is to be created from the current Rivers State. For those not aware, Kengema would comprise of what is mainly the riverine areas of Rivers State which includes ethnicities like the Kalabaris, arguable the largest ethnic group and others of like culture, etc. The motive for the creation of this state has been variously identified as the need for a political union amongst the people of the riverine and the need to forge ahead in one accord with a common purpose to further the noble cause of development. While no right thinking Nigerian would oppose grassroots development with the creation of state as the main catalyst, in the very context of Nigeria, I regret to aver that it has been a colossal negation of the very idea of development, a sure conduit for official looting, rapacious politics, naked display of power, sheer recklessness well garnished by crude political banditry.

While we clamor for Kengema State in the south-south and Adada State in the south-east and Ibadan State in the south-west, perhaps, it might be overly prudent for us to ask some pertinent questions; we may want to know what has become of Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Akwa Ibom and the rest that were created in 1996 by then so-called fiendish maximum leader, Sani Abacha? Where are these states on the development chart a good twelve years after their creation? How much development have they seen since their creation and how have the lives of the people of the state been improved? It is only in Nigeria that the creation of new states is inimical to the very ethos of progress and development – invariably, state creation in Nigeria means wealth creation for a few greedy individuals. Just look at the number of previous governors and their cronies that were indicted on countless counts of fraud and corruption,all leaving their states poorer and more desolate than they found them.

On my last visit to Nigeria, I had good reason to travel to Aba located in one of the newly created states of Abia and Bayelsa; what I saw, ,my friends, is better left untold. A city like Aba, since known for its entrepreneurial prowess not only in Nigeria, but in West Africa and the rest of the continent is nothing but a big refuge dump, a waste land and conglomerate of scum, filth and more scum. There appeared to be no architectural planning of the city, structures spring up in a zig-zag fashion, gutters go cluttered posing serious health threats to the residents and making the sights of the city nothing to behold, if not outright repulsive. One is left to ask, is there a government in Abia State, and if so, what is its responsibility to the people of the state?

I do not need to remind anyone about the sorrowful and painful case of Bayelsa where the speed of a snail appears faster than the pace of development more than a decade after its creation. With more than $10 billion USD at its ready disposal since its creation, Bayelsa remains a primitive enclave of mesh muddy waters and restive creeks, a civilization that pre-dates the stone ages. Even the capital, Yenegoa, after twelve years as the seat of power remains a poster city for urban blight and destitution, barely befitting of its status. It becomes an utterly vexing matter when one is reminded that Bayelsa takes in the second highest federal allocation after Rivers State of more than N10 billion a month; what then is the excuse for the state to continue its disgraceful macabre dance of desolation rather than waxing strong on the path of progress and institutional development? What we have in Bayelsa and in many of these states is misadministration by the leaders who continue to siphon and embezzle funds; we should note well that the creation of state is not the solution to underdevelopment, but rather the election of honest and God fearing leaders with vision and purpose, those who will develop all parts of the existing states so all residents and entities of the state become vested stakeholders.

We should ask ourselves, why isn’t there the clamor for more states in the US or more provinces in Canada. The answer is simple; the leadership of the US states and Canadian provinces for the most part is focused on development and providing economic independence for its people, thus, forestalling any agitation for more states and provinces. Even the province of Quebec in Canada twice voted to remain part of Canada essentially because its citizens feel involved in the political process of the country and are empowered as such to determine their political and economic destinies. Though Nigeria cannot be as developed as these countries in the short period of its existence as a nation, the same principle, however, can be applied.

As the Kalabaris and others clamor for Kengema State, they should advise all and sundry what they have done with Rivers state? How have they developed Rivers State since its creation in 1967 to merit and be rewarded with another state? It’s been forty years now since they have been part of Rivers and yet, the state remains seriously underdeveloped with poor roads, hardly any drinking water or electricity in the rural areas not to mention functional institutions. Until today, forty years after its creation, the people of the riverine areas are subjected to the wild torrents of the erratic seas that marinate the plains as they travel to their villages since there are hardly any bridges to speak of. And may the good Lord have mercy on your soul should there be any mishap on the high seas that may occasion a feeding frenzy for the creations of the sea of their human prey.

The Kalabaris and the other ethnicities that populate the riverine areas, unable to wrestle power from the ruling upland ethnicities in the state since the departure of the Ijaws with the creation of Bayelsa, want a separate state where they can hold mighty sway. Imagine such a rationale for the creation of a state. They say they are marginalized in Rivers State, therefore, a new state must be created for them; they say Odili terrorized them during his mis-rule, therefore, they must have their own state; they said they do not have a political stake in Rivers State; therefore, they must have their own state. While I am not opposed to the creation of Kengema or other states as long as such an initiative would enhance development and accountability and provide more opportunities for the people, the hard truth is, it will not.

Indeed, the creation of Kegema will hardly foster development in the Niger Delta Basin as the proponents avidly claim, it will hardly bring economic independence to the people as ought to be the case, it will hardly translate into jobs and educational opportunities for the people, but rather, provide opportunities for a few to plunder new state allocations that would come from Abuja, it would allow a 37th governor, like all of the other common thieves in the various government houses across the nation to have his share of the national cake, building mansions all over the landscape like the moronic, convicted, disgraced and cross-dressing Diepreye Alamieyesigha, Joshua Dariye, Peter Odili, James Ibori, Orji Kalu, Ayo Fayose and their co-travelers. It would occasion new political thuggery, in-fighting, killings and mayhem as we have seen in Bayelsa, Abia and in many of the other states that have been recently created. Rather than agitating for a new state where they would reign as kings and bask in dictatorial entreaties, the Kalabaris should remain in Rivers State and take on the political establishment, fight for their dues, bring development to the creeks and villages of the riverine. They should unveil their political artistry and master stroke, like the warriors and gladiators they are until such time when the creation of a new state would truly mean grassroots development, accountable leadership and the provision of various opportunities for the people

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