Although the next gubernatorial election will actually take place towards the end of 2027, agitation for zoning of the office has already started, with stakeholders making their points based on their interest.
From 1999, the PDP has been in control of Bayelsa State and the seat has taken a natural zoning based largely on the three senatorial districts. For example, Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, the first civilian governor, from Southern Ijaw, was from the central senatorial district.
His successor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, from Ogbia, is of the Bayelsa East senatorial district. He was succeeded by Chief Timipre Sylva, from Brass, who stepped in after Jonathan left the office to become vice president.
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, from Sagbama, in the Bayelsa West senatorial district, took over from Sylva and served for eight years, before handing over to the current governor, Senator Douye Diri, from Kolokuma/Opokuma, in the Bayelsa Central senatorial district, the zone that produced the first governor.
The expectation has been high, that the seat will naturally move towards Bayelsa East senatorial district in 2027. However, some political pundits are calling for a fresh arithmetic on the matter.
Those in this school of thought have argued that the seat has been occupied on the basis of local governments, against the senatorial district permutation. A few days ago, Mr Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli started what is now becoming a fresh debate on the zoning of the seat.
Writing on a whatsapp platform, Ikuli reasoned that “since the inception of our contemporary democracy in 1999 till date, five Local Government Areas out of the eight LGAs have ruled Bayelsa State.
The LGAs that have governed Bayelsa State are: Southern Ijaw (Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha)
Ogbia (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan), Brass (Chief Timipre Sylva), Sagbama (Sen. Henry Seriake Dickson), Kolokuma/Opokuma (Sen. Douye Diri).
“The remaining three Local Government Areas that have not governed Bayelsa State are Ekeremor, Nembe and Yenagoa. By the zoning and rotation arrangement, the three Senatorial Districts: Central, West and East have all ruled and governed the state.
“As a matter of fact, Bayelsa Central Senatorial District has governed twice (Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and Sen. Douye Diri). Bayelsa East has governed twice (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Timipre Sylva).
“The only Senatorial District that has governed Bayelsa State only once is Bayelsa West that produced Senator Henry Seriake Dickson. Going from the above, Bayelsa West Senatorial District is the most qualified Senatorial District to produce the next Governor of Bayelsa State.
“So if we are talking about Equity, Fairness and Social Justice, then Bayelsa West should be given the first right of refusal in the forthcoming 2027/2028 governorship election.”
His position was quickly countered by Ebis Okpeke who rebuked Ikuli saying “Bayelsa West where I came from(sic) should not be in this picture for now please.
We just had a governor for eight years and the incumbent deputy governor going to eight years. Let’s not over-flog certain issues that are very clear and tantamount to intimidation, oppression and promoting division among us. Guber rotation is by senatorial districts and not by LGAs and that should be respected.”
As the debate rages, a former commissioner in the state, Furoebi Akene, has taken a position. He believes that the zoning issue should not cause friction in the state but that emphasis should not be so much on where the individual comes from, but on the capacity of the person.
In a statement made available exclusively to TNN on Tuesday, Akene said: “As it is widely known, they say politics is a game of interest, but my question is “what type of interest are we talking about?”
“Is it personal interest of looting the treasury for personal wastage? Is it interest to control the resources of the state to oppress opposition and dissenting voices? Is it interest for the development of the state passionately for the collective benefit of all and for posterity? If the answer to the last question is YES, why worry about where the person comes from instead of the right person for the job?
“It is this mindset of “it is our turn” that has kept Bayelsa on the path of sluggish and improper/uncontrolled development from the inception of democracy till date, juxtaposing with the revenue coming in in each administration with the attendant economic index of the time.
“What the state is infamously known for is sycophancy and praising singing describing every administration as God sent whereas the facts and figures cannot match for the development index.
“However, while it is premature to heat up the political and social space on the issue of zoning amongst the three senatorial districts where the next governor should come from, it is imperative to reflect on the historical of the zones and the Local Government areas.
“Bayelsa Central had the first shot of Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha of now blessed memory from Southern Ijaw for one and a half terms, while Sen. Douye Diri of Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA the current Governor will round up his second term in February 2028, while Yenagoa LGA is yet to have their fair share.
“Bayelsa East, had H.E. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan from Ogbia LGA completed the unexpired period of Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and was elevated to become Vice President and President for a cumulative period of eight years, while Chief Timipre Sylva from Brass LGA served for a period of about four and a fraction of a year (May 2007 to February 14, 2012) and Nembe LGA is yet to have their share.
“Bayelsa West Had H.E. Henry Seriake Dickson who served for eight years (February 24, 2012 to February 14, 2023) while Ekeremor is yet to have their share.
“The summary is Central to February 14,2028, fourteen years, East six years and west eight years. My take in this matter, is that we should first consider the person’s content and character, the level of humility and accessibility, disposition to criticisms and opinions and suggestions of others, engagements of appropriate professionals on issues instead of nepotism and favouritism and above all the passion and commitment of the person towards the development of the state and the people of the state.
“We have had enough of family members and few associates and favoured as an extension of the governor in each administration. The people who even make sacrifices became either secondary or tertiary stake holders is not good for the development of the state and not also in the true spirit of brotherhood and better friendship.
“In my personal opinion, while I don’t have premium about zoning, but on the strength that we must imbibe zoning, Bayelsa East should be considered first but not without the attributes I highlighted here including content and character.”
