When Gowon, others called for Ijaw integration

AUSTIN EBIPADE, in Yenagoa, reports the atmosphere that welcomed  former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria, to Yenagoa recently where issues of Ijaw integration were discussed.

THE scenario in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, headquarters of the Ijaw nation, balkanized into six states of the federation, was of a huge gathering of people when former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon visited the oil and gas rich state to commission several flagship projects initiated by the governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson recently.

The cynosure was such that Gowon openly expressed his love for the Ijaw people, as he felt at home in the Ijaw headquarters without any fear of anything untoward, as he came in company of his host, Governor Seriake Dickson, national and state assembly members, as well as top government functionaries from the state.

The state wore a rainbow colour epitomized by the mammoth turn out of women, men, politicians, civil servants and captains of industries, security operatives, Non-governmental organisations, members of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and school children, who trooped out to catch a glimpse of General Gowon, as some Bayelsans only knew him from history textbooks.

The women’s wrappers and flashy headgears were of varios colours, they sang songs both in English and Izon language to ensure that General Gowon and his wife, Victoria, were welcomed and entertained as they made the one day visit colourful, memorable and unforgettable in the hearts of General Gowon and his wife.

On hand to receive the visiting former head of state was the Bayelsa State council of traditional rulers, led by Gowon’s military administrator of old Rivers State, now the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diette Spiff, at the ultra-modern traditional rulers’ council secretariat in Yenagoa.

The state government also treated the former head of state, Gowon and his wife to a state dinner at the DSP Alamieyeseigha’s Banquet Hall at the government house, where the state council of arts and culture presented a drama of the Doyen of the Ijaw struggle, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, to the delight of Gowon, who was the commander-in-chief at the time.

Gowon eulogised memories of when he was in office as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, as he met a number of Ijaw eminent leaders that served in his government, particularly the foremost Ijaw leaders, Chief Edwin Clark and King Spiff, who lauded the Dickson administration being for taking the right steps to change the wrong narrative of the Ijaw people as been educationally backward by investing in the educational advancement of the young people, whom he described as the future leaders of the state and Nigeria.

According to Gowon, there is no other potent weapon that can be given to outlaw poverty, unemployment and under development of a people, race or nation, other than education and that Governor Dickson had done well by investing in education, epitomised by the iconic Ijaw National Academy that he (Gowon) was privileged to commission in the heart of Ijaw land in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

Going down memory lane, he said when he was in power, his policies were tilted to support the educational advancement of the country, characterised by the several institutes established in Nigeria and particularly the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1973, geared towards the integration of the country as young leaders were deployed not just to educate, but to learn the culture of Nigerians from the different states of the federation.

Gowon also commissioned the iconic government house built by the Dickson restoration government, describing it as the best in the country. He, when conducted round the facility, extolled the state government for equipping it with state of the art facilities of international standards.

He concluded that Governor Dickson meant well for Ijaw people, adding that it was possible for him to not notice the need to build a new government house, knowing fully well that it was not his property and that he would serve and handover in the near future to another government to pilot the affairs of the state.

Gowon, at the Bayelsa drug mart, described Dickson as a multi-faceted politician for his investment in the health sector, noting that the importance of the drug mart cannot be over-emphasized, because what is obtainable in advanced society was central verification, certification and approval of drugs to be consumed by the public in a drug mart, as it would completely outlaw the influx of sub-standard drugs circulated in different parts of the country which is to the detriment to the public as they may not be able to locate supply addresses, should the drugs turn out harmful to consumers.

The former head of state recalled the amnesty he gave the Doyen of the Ijaw struggle, late Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, who fought on the Nigerian side to liberate Port Harcourt, Rivers State from the Biafran army, even as he noted that the Ijaw nation have never supported the disintegration of Nigeria, but rather had deployed both their intellectual wealth and resources to contribute to the unity and oneness of the country.

He said that while in office, the Ijaw people that were in his government fought for a united Nigeria, saying “we ensured that we kept the country together, not minding issues and agitations that could have separated us (Nigeria). Gowon, who congratulated the Governor, reiterated that all great nations attained greatness by investing in educating their people and noted the governor would not regret the great investment made in educating the minds of young Bayelsans who are the torch bearers to future Ijaw leaders.

“Governor Dickson’s revolutionary approach to educational development would turn around the fortunes of Bayelsa State in the near future, the academy as impressive and that the vision behind the setting up of the free boarding secondary school was commendable as it is designed to achieve academic excellence and capacity building”, Gowon submitted.

He was emphatic that the world class facility, Ijaw National Academy, would give the Ijaw people greater recognition now and in the future, as it is free education from JSSI to SSS III, inclusive of feeding and provision of learning aids ranging  from textbooks, biro, mathematical sets, equipped physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories, amongst others. Said he “though your area (Ijaw territory) is largely riverine, but you (Governor Dickson) have overcome your terrain by building this academy for your people”. I congratulate you for what you are doing in this area and all Ijaw people should continue to support this great idea that would reposition the state in the near future. I also thank you for inviting me to commission the academy”, Gowon submitted.

He charged the students to reciprocate government’s investment in building the world class Ijaw National Academy by defending it with their blood because it remained their heritage, even as he urged them not to destroy the facilities, but use it judiciously.