Governor Alamieyeseigha and His Wahala By Sabella Abidde
Governor Alamieyeseigha and his alleged money laundering story are now all over the news all over the world. As of now, I am just in the sidon-look mode because as with most things Nigeria, this could be another hoax or before you know it there will be an official statement saying “this was just a misunderstanding,” or that the officials in London were “quoted out of context.”
But if the allegations are true, I can imagine the followings or a combination of the following scenario:
On the other hand none of the aforementioned may even happen if the Obasanjo government or the British decide to teach him a lesson in order to set a precedent, instead of allowing him to go free as they did Dariye of Plateau State. Dariye has/had powerful backers…does Alamieyeseigha?
Ha, Alamieyeseigha’s wahala, if guilty, must not become Ijaw’ wahala; for this man has set us the Ijaws back two decades in terms of growth and development. He was already a disgrace and a monumental failure long before all these happened, anyway.
Here is a governor who could not answer simple questions such as: (1) prior to 1999, were you in a position to own all the properties and investment portfolios you now own outside of Nigeria; (2) How much do you make in terms of salary to be able to afford the tuition and living expenses of all your children living and schooling in the USA and elsewhere; and (3) can an independent auditor verify that you have not stolen or misappropriated the people’s money since coming to power in 1999?
“Today the Governor is in the US, tomorrow he is in Paris, and the next day he is in Casablanca or in Abuja. What is he running away from? He should sit in Creek Haven and among our people to do his job. Traversing the globe will not do our people any good. The dollars and euros being spent on hotel accommodation, air-tickets, security details and other miscellaneous expenses are better spent on our people and on our collective challenges. Come to think of it: what has he learnt by junketing the globe? What American, European or Asian idea/ideal has he implemented in Bayelsa? What Asian, European, or American governing philosophy had rubbed off of him? In all his many travels overseas what has the Governor learnt and implemented that is to the glory of Bayelsa and Ijawnation?”
“History, Alamieyeseigha must understand, is never kind to those who, in times of crisis failed to step up to the plate. Ijawland is in a crisis. Posterity is never kind to those who failed to make a difference in the lives of their people. This governor has all the chances in the world to be on the right side of history, but he is slipping and sliding and about to drop the ball. My prayers are with him. The governor has no reason to fail. He has no reason to be an underachiever. He has no reason to be a mediocre governor with average achievement. No. My God, no!”
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