Extreme Opposition Attitude Contributing to Nigerian Underdevelopment

The Ijaw Nation which has Bayelsa State as its traditional headquarters and Jerusalem is the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. The other three are Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo/Igbo.

One thing that is common among the three bigger ethnic groups but absent in the Ijaw Nation particularly in Bayelsa State is the fact that the political leaders do not use "Economic Strangulation" as a potent political weapon the way Ijaws do.

The Yorubas in particular always meet in secret and encourage themselves to spread into different political parties since Nigeria operates a muquarrellingemocratic system. They pretend as if they are quarrelling during the day in order to win the support and confidence of other leaders but the same leaders who are members of different political parties meet in the night to do appraisal and reappraisals and also plan ahead. In other special cases, they meet in the palaces of their Obas to settle their seeming differences.

The Yorubas have one common goal which was built and inculcated in them by the great sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who taught them to behave and think as a 'Yoruba' at all material times. This simply means, whenever and wherever position they find themselves, they should put the Yoruba interest first, higher and above every other interest.

It is worthy to note that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was tutored and mentored by an Ijaw man, Chief Ernest Sisei Ikoli one of the foremost Nationalists and outstanding Journalist Nigeria has ever had. It is quite unfortunate that while the Yorubas deify Awolowo, Ijaws on the other hand have forgotten Chief Ernest Sisei Ikoli who is one of the great Ancestors in the Ijaw Nation.

Now back to the crux and subject matter, the political elites from Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo do not believe, subscribe or resort to Economic Sabotage, Strangulation or Antagonism as a political weapon, the way Ijaws do. They do not block, stop or destroy the businesses or means of livelihood of their brothers who are their political opponents.

On the other hand, the Ijaws particularly Bayelsans believe so much in political vendetta and the total destruction of the businesses and means of livelihood of their brothers who oppose them. In Rivers State, the other tribes do not believe in it but Ijaws are the ones who are quick to suggest its use against their own brothers. The Ikwerres have been in power for over 12years, they don't use it rather they encourage and protect each other politically. They know their present fraternity and romance with the Ijaws and other ethnic groups will not last too long and that they will always need their own brothers in times of ethnic political rivalry.

This satanic and demonic political weapon that Ijaws particularly Bayelsans use is largely and generally responsible for the high-level l of poverty in the state te. The moment an Ijaw man is out of power or there is change of government, the first thing those who take over power do is to see how to destroy all the evidence of those who just left office. The above is evidenct in the number of abandoned hotels in Yenagoa. Our leaders even go to the level and extent of sacking workers and political appointees that are seen in hotels owned by their opponents. This is poverty of the mind. It is political insanity! It is stupidity! The Yorubas, Hausas and Igbos don't ever do that. The l, leaders of these bigger, ethnic groups know the importance of unity in diversity especially during ethnic political rivalry.

The present antagonism and sabotage of the activities of Darlon Security Company owned by an APC chieftain David Lyon by the Gov. Henry Dickson Seriake led Restoration Government is uncivilized and highly condemnable. Let us imagine the number of Bayelsa Youths that are earning their living through that company. Let us also imagine the huge revenue the Bayelsa State government makes monthly from the taxes the company and their over 4000 workers pay as taxes.

Today, it is because of this evil and very dangerous political antagonism that an Akwa Ibom man is occupying the position of the Managing Director of NDDC at the expense and detriment of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation in general. It is the turn of Bayelsa State to produce the MD of NDDC but our own people are fighting against it simply because they believe such revered office will empower the opponents. They don't ever think about the empowerment and unprecedented development it will bring to the state and the Ijaw Nation in general. The MD of NDDC has the constitutional power to control Billions of Naira for contracts he can empower over 100 persons at a stretch.

If we must move forward as a great and most blessed people, then we must stop this political hypnotism. I say this because we seem to be under a kind of political hypnotism. It seems we have been hypnotised.