“Our Actions As a Measure of Test of Time” – By; Ofoni Williams

The youths of Nigeria are engaging in a demonstration in order to agitate for good governance in the Nigerian federation.

The moves of the youths have been received with mixed-feelings for obvious reasons, ranging from sectional, political, personal, security and the manner at which the youths are carrying out the protest and agitation so far.

In addition to the above demands and agitation is the involvement of the youths in certain unwholesome conducts, which are increasing day in day out, forcing and imposing varying interpretations on the ongoing nation wide protest, resulting to no clear-cut mission and vision for the youths – to the extent that it is variously considered as being politically motivated.

The alleged involvement of youths in the destruction of our national assets and other privately owned property in the guise of a genuine protest and the coloration it offers as the only explanation and the attendant hardship citizens are subjected to triggers unpleasant reactions and consequences in the days ahead.

A paramant demand of the agitation is the call for P.M.B to resign – is apparently a joke carried too far because it bothers on an issue of constitutionality and protest is not an ideal method or platform to administer the dose postulated by the agitating youths. The demand in question amounts to violation of the rights of other Nigerians who voted for Mr. P.M.B. because the youths only represent a stratum of the Nigerian population.

This view, however, is not, in any way, putting a seal on the matters or issues that affect them directly or indirectly, more particularly, viewing from the prism that there exists freedom of expression.

Be that as it may, it is important to emphasize the need for the teaming Nigerian youths to demonstrate that they are prepared to lead and have the capacity and abilities to actually assume leadership role. This is brought to the fore going by the attitude exhibited by the agitating youths and the activities witnessed in broad daylight that do not typify good leadership qualities.

One wonders and finds it difficult to rationalize and marry the link between exhibition of complete nudity or stack nakedness as part of measures for the protest, destruction of property in the course of the protest and the demands made by the youths.

Interestingly and funny enough, it is the same youths that have presented themselves as pro and anti of the ongoing protest. This is a complete smack on the consistency of the youths as shown by their appetite to provide leadership desired by the generality of the people.

It is fast becoming an issue, where govt in any part of the globe will fold her hands and watch unconstitutiouality, to go on unabatedly in broad daylight.
The foregoing is another sphere put across in advance that human beings are the most complex components in the managerial chain of production and governance.

This development calls for quick re-examination of events by the youths to ensure that their agitation is on same page with international best practices such as “Democratic norms and values that are universally acceptable”.

At this juncture, in driving home the demands and agitation of good Governance in Nigeria, the case of Bayelsa State should not be an expection as it witnesses the ongoing protest. The question that readily comes to mind is: what is the place of the agitation in Bayelsa state?

The above question is called to bear as the youths of Bayelsa State need to justify their participation for agitation of good governance.

Thus, the “youths” must demonstrate the need for the agitation, firstly in relation to the forthcoming election for Senate in Bayelsa State, particularly the Bayelsa West senatorial bye-election slate for 31st October, 2020.

It is on record that Hon. H. S. Dickson is the candidate for PDP and his eight year reign of the PDP Restoration govt had been adjudged to be said of general misrule, mismanagement and complete disappointment to the citizenry.

Right now, there are one hundred and one reasons as to why Hon. H. S. Dickson is not electable at all levels as being expressed by concerned Bayelsans.

To make matters worse, Hon. H. S. Dickson had promised Bayelsans that our State will be the Dubai of Africa. This statement is achievable and doable because it is backed with fluidity of the State in term of liquidity and resource availability. But regrettably, Bayelsa State is not a near resemblance of 70 kilometer radius of Dubai in actual sense.

If the one hundred and one reasons from Bayelsans make no sense to the youths of Bayelsa state. What of the self made confession to have described Bayelsa State as the “forest capital” encapsulated in famous Akene Audio tape that has gone viral in the social media, that is to serve as a knowledge base for the Bayelsan youths. This failure expressed by the man in question is audible to the deaf and clear enough to the blind.

In view of the above, Bayelsa youths are suggestively advised to remove the logs in their eyes first before others, for charity begins at home.

Furthermore, to justify the agitation for good governance, the time has come as we go into the elections. As a decisive measure,
Bayelsa youths ought to include as part of their resolutions to call on Hon. H. S. Dickson to withdraw from the Senate race.

It is believed that this is the right and the best way to demonstrate that they are seriously yearning for good governance, Unless, they want to make their participation in the agitation to remain meaningless , of no consequences, misplaced, vissionless, missionless, and of no value.

Come to think of it that Bayelsa State was without potable drinking water for eight years, power supply was in a state of near zero and with N1.9 trillion naira within the same period. The Transparency Briefing initiative by Hon. H. S. Dickson was a ruse and a wheeze: N10 billion BDIC proceeds was not accounted for; N19.7 billion Soku / Oluasri wind fall remains a Bayelsa-gate, etc .

If “youths” of Bayelsa State want to assume leadership role , it has to be demonstrated via positive attitudes, signs to bear good fruits, courageous and eliminate emotions.

As it stands now, Bayelsa State youths must be serious and stand to be counted. Bayelsa youths can vividly recall the painful experiences that befell on them when, under the auspices of unemployed youths, notified the PDP Restoration govt led by Hon. H. S. Dickson, of their desire to be gainfully employed, which later culminated into a protest. Hence, their failure not to include Hon. H. S. Dickson or reason at his performance speaks volume of Bayelsa youths.

it should be crystal clear that the protest is not to merely occupy spaces but backed up and to cause positive consequences and change. Hence our actions must stand the test of times .

OUR ACTIONS AS A MEASURE OF TEST OF TIME BY HON OFONI D WILLIAMS, WRITES FROM YENAGOA….

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