Opinion
BAYELSA STATE@28 :A GLANCE AT NIGER- DELTA’S BEST-KEPT SECRET
BAYELSA STATE@28
A GLANCE AT NIGER- DELTA’S BEST-KEPT SECRET
By Tobouke JEMINE
On this day, October 1,1996, the Glory of All Lands was carved out from Rivers State by the Sani Abacha-led military regime.I am still wondering how she shared the same birthday and Independence-month with Nigeria.
Bayelsa State is one of the newest states in Nigeria. Interestingly, the name “Bayelsa” is derived from the first few letters of the major local government areas that formed the state: Brass, Yenagoa, and Sagbama.
A billion thanks to the founding patriots: Bayelsa State is a creation of sweats, sacrifices and perseverance. And it is located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, acknowledged for its rich oil reserves and unique cultural heritage.
Today, my lenses are fixed on its natural elegance, environmental splendours, rich culture, treasured history, festivals, wildlife, and waterways that offer diverse opportunities for both domestic and international visitors and investors. It is a potential hotspot for tourism.
Bayelsa is home to a vast network of rivers, creeks, and lush forests, providing breathtaking natural landscapes for eco-tourists. Oxbow Lake situated in the capital city of Yenagoa, is a popular spot for relaxation and recreational activities like boating, fishing, and picnicking. The serene environment makes it ideal for nature lovers.
The River Nun of Gabriel Okara’s poetry is a vital waterway, offering scenic boat rides and opportunities to explore the flora and fauna of the region. The River Nun is historically significant as it was one of the key routes for the slave trade during the dark chapters of the White man in Africa.
Bayelsa’s extensive mangrove forests are not only ecologically important but also offer adventure opportunities such as canoeing, birdwatching, and nature photography. The forests serve as a home to rare and endangered species, making it an exciting destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
The Glory of All Lands has diverse wildlife, including primates, reptiles, and aquatic species. John Alla, the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism is working on developing these reserves and sanctuaries to attract visitors interested in the biodiversity of the Niger Delta.
The state is a home to a rich cultural heritage rooted in the traditions of the Ijaw people, one of the major and oldest ethnic groups in Nigeria. This cultural heritage provides an array of opportunities for cultural and historical tourism.
Bayelsa celebrates various traditional festivals, such as the Seigbein Fishing Festival , the Ogori Ba Festival, Masquerade Festivals, and others with pomp and grandeur. These festivals showcase traditional music, dance, cuisine, and the deep connection the Ijaw people have with the water, attracting tourists interested in experiencing indigenous cultures.
The Isaac Boro monument commemorates the life of Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, one of our most revered and prominent figures in the history of Niger Delta struggle. The memorial attracts visitors interested in learning about the historical and political development of the region.
In Bayelsa State, we have many historic towns like Brass, which was a hub for European traders and missionaries during the colonial period, there are remnants of colonial-era architecture and stories that could be part of historical tours. And there are glories for the eyes at Akassa Lighthouse and Peace Park?
With its extensive network of rivers, creeks, and the Atlantic coastline, the State offers ample opportunities for water-based tourism.The Agge, Orobiri, Amazor, Brass Beaches offer stunning views of the coastline. The Commissioner is putting in work to make sure the clean and inspiring beaches are developed to attract both leisure travelers and adventure seekers interested in activities like fishing and surfing.
Given its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Bayelsa State is ideal for deep-sea fishing, which could appeal to tourists looking for sport fishing. Boat cruises along the various rivers and creeks also present opportunities for leisure and exploration.
The Nembe waterways are another coastal area with beautiful creeks, perfect for boat rides. This part of Bayelsa provides access to traditional riverine settlements, where tourists can explore the local culture and way of life.
Bayelsa’s agricultural sector also holds potential for tourism, particularly with its cultivation of fish, cassava, plantain, and palm oil, these and its rich fishing culture, and fish farms would be developed by the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism into tourist attractions where visitors can learn about aquaculture, local fishing techniques, and the production of seafood delicacies.
The state hosts a wealth of palm oil and cassava plantations that would be opened up for guided tours where tourists experience how palm oil and cassava products are processed. This form of agro-tourism would also include culinary experiences involving local dishes made from cassava and plantain.
Bayelsa offers untapped opportunities for adventure tourism, especially given its natural terrain and riverine environment. The numerous rivers and creeks are perfect for activities like kayaking and canoeing, providing thrilling experiences for adventure tourists.
The Atlantic coast provides a unique environment for scuba diving and snorkeling. This aspect of tourism could be harnessed to attract water sports enthusiasts from across the world. Given the rich aquatic life, the state could host national or international fishing competitions, promoting the state as a hub for sport fishing.
Bayelsa has the potential to become a hub for leisure tourism, with the possibility of developing luxury resorts, hotels, and leisure centers.Developing eco-friendly resorts along the beaches or near the rivers could attract tourists looking for relaxation amidst nature. These resorts could offer activities such as fishing, bird watching, nature trails, and local cultural experiences.
The state can also develop film tourism by promoting the beautiful and diverse landscapes for film productions. This could attract filmmakers looking for natural settings, further boosting the local economy. Currently, one of our own Nollywood veteran actor, Elaweremi Pereke Elaweremi with his Ijaw Africa Movies movement is doing an enormous justice to the Ijaw entertainment industry.
Bayelsa state is truly blessed with remarkable talents and potentials in the entertainment arena. The wealth in this sector could be further explored and utilized by a partnership between the government and private institutions likes King Pereama Freetown, Chief Barrister Smooth, Alfred Izonebi, Asu Ekiye, Timaya, and upcoming brands like FC the Storyteller, Erema Yanga, Mc Kidikidi, and others — not forgetting the living legacies of late legends like the beloved King Robert Ebizimor as sources of cultural inspirations and creativity.
There is no doubting the fact that Bayelsa State’s tourism potential is immense but largely underdeveloped, and the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, recognizing these realities and equipped with the required insights and competence, is putting resources in place to make an enduring magic out of the tourism potentials of the state.
Of equal importance is the fact that, to make a significant tourist destination out of Bayelsa State, there is the need for massive infrastructural development, investment in hospitality, and active promotion of its tourism resources and potentials both locally and internationally. And the private sector is needed in this drive to make a wonderland out of the Glory of All Lands.
May God Almighty continue to grant the Commissioner of Tourism, Hon. John Alla, the grace and wisdom to fulfill the blueprint of his ministry to the last letter, and may God bless Bayelsa State, the Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation, and the Nature’s Haven of Niger Delta.
Again, congratulations to the land of glory.
* Mulade Calls for Developmental Bonds Amongst Ijaw & Itsekiri Nationalities
By Divine Perezide
A renowned peace and development advocate in the Niger Delta region, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, Ph.D has urged the Ijaw and the Itsekiri ethnic nationalities of Delta State to foster bonds of unity and friendship so as to attract investors to their areas for positive development and growth.
Comrade Mulade, who is the Ibe Serimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West council area of the State, made the call while speaking to some leaders from the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri
The United Nations peace ambassador appealed to the leaders from both ethnic nationalities to embrace peace, to unite, and to let love lead in their collective pursuit for sustainable development, devoid of bias and ethnic supremacy, which he said “is the only way that we can grow and development our areas.”
Speaking further, he sad, “Frankly, we are disgracing ourselves, and it is highly disappointing that many of us are beating the drum of ethnic war for personal interest and recognition.
“Please, we don’t need division, but progressive ties that will attract investors and development to our communities,” he pleaded.
Comrade Mulade further argued that the Ijaws and the Itsekiris contribute so much to the revenues of both the state and the nation, but are not recognised in terms of infrastructure, worsened by the continued state of acrimony.
“It is imperative to state that the Ijaw and Itsekiri areas in Delta State contribute the highest quota in the oil and gas industry as well as the blue economy, but we are deliberately deprived, neglected and shortchanged from development because of ethnic division and hatred amongst ourselves, which has eluded us”, he posited.
“I want to strongly appeal to our revered traditional rulers, political leaders, and stakeholders to allow peace and development thrive”
“We are victims of underdevelopment because of our individual and ethnic pride that is affecting our growth and development. Today, all development efforts are concentrated in the uplands while neglecting the sources of the resources,” he lamented.
By: Prof. Benedict Binebai
One must aver that concerning the Niger Delta, that most vital and economically pulsating hub of Nigeria, the paramount endeavour ought to be the fortification of hope amongst its denizens and the edification of its citizenry. In this vein, the Federal Government has demonstrated sagacity in instituting the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), a most commendable initiative. Moreover, the appointment of a true scion of the region’s struggle, Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, as the administrator of the PAP, bespeaks a discerning choice.
Albeit tumultuous times erstwhile beset the region, there now prevails a relative tranquillity, and the narratives of vision pertaining to the management of funds have resonated with striking efficacy in the ears of the region’s inhabitants. Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, the eminent PAP boss, merits approbation for his stewardship. In a span of less than two years, the felicitous outcomes of the programme, as interpreted and operated by this distinguished gentleman, have been manifestly evident. His tenure has been characterised by an assiduous dedication to fostering peace, stability, and a renaissance of hope in the Niger Delta. The beauty of the programme, as conveyed through his adept administration, has captured the imagination of the region’s populace, engendering a sense of optimism touching upon the prospects for sustainable development and harmonious coexistence.
By: Prof. Benedict Binebai
The Tompolo Model of the Revolution of the Mind is a pivotal framework for empowering the Ijaw nation through a profound and transformative shift in collective consciousness, perception, and thinking. This model, spearheaded by Tompolo, a former militant commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), emphasises the empowerment of the Ijaw people to reclaim their identity, challenge oppressive systems, and drive progress through cultural empowerment, self-determination, and adaptive strategies. It involves breaking free from mental constraints imposed by external forces, embracing one’s heritage, and fostering a renewed sense of agency to address challenges and seize opportunities.
The Tompolo Model ignites a revolution of the mind for the Ijaw nation, implying a significant metamorphosis in cognition, perception, and approach to challenges and opportunities amongst the Ijaw people, who predominantly reside in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. With a population of around 15 million, the Ijaw have a distinct culture that includes traditions like returning deceased women to their natal homes for burial and celebrations honouring water spirits. Historically strong in fishing, trading, and water transport within their mangrove forests and creeks, the Ijaw face challenges like environmental degradation from oil spills. The Tompolo Model could catalyse advances in cultural preservation and empowerment, emboldening the Ijaw to embrace their legacy whilst navigating modern exigencies. It could leverage historical strengths in fishing and trading for economic progress in the Niger Delta. It might also nurture efficacious, inclusive governance in the Ijaw’s clan-based polity, where chiefs and elders entwine tradition with democratic tenets. Potential outcomes include enhancement of identity and pride amongst the Ijaw through fortified cultural essence, inciting innovation to surmount challenges like poverty, and espousing sustainable stewardship of the Niger Delta’s natural resources.
Tompolo, through his leadership in the struggle for his people’s emancipation amidst environmental degradation and exploitation by oil companies, has been instrumental in galvanising efforts towards emancipation, cultural empowerment, and sustainable development.
Through cultural risorgimento, political activism, spiritual authenticity, pragmatism, economic empowerment, educational support, historical restoration, and geographical restoration, the Ijaw nation could experience significant progress via the Tompolo Model.
Building bridges across tribe and geography in the Niger Delta could foster inter-tribal cooperation, enhance connectivity within the complex waterways, and promote cultural exchanges for peaceful coexistence and development in the region.
The Tompolo Model of a mind revolution for the Ijaw nation resonates with Frantz Fanon’s concepts of mental decolonisation and liberation through awakened consciousness. Fanon, in his work “The Wretched of the Earth”, emphasised the necessity for colonised peoples to break free from imposed mental frameworks and reclaim their essence, culture, and volition. Similarly, Tompolo’s leadership in advocating for the Niger Delta’s emancipation amidst environmental onslaughts echoes Fanon’s call for a revolution in consciousness to defy oppressive systems. Both visions underscore the importance of reclaiming cultural identity, challenging external domination, and nurturing empowerment through transformed mindset to drive progress and liberation.
Additionally, the theory of *Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed* supports Tompolo’s revolution of the mind. Freire’s work emphasises the importance of critical consciousness and empowerment of marginalised communities through education and collective action. Like Fanon, Freire advocates for breaking free from oppressive structures and fostering a sense of agency among oppressed peoples to drive change. Tompolo’s efforts in empowering the Ijaw people amidst environmental and economic challenges in the Niger Delta align with Freire’s principles of promoting critical awareness, empowerment, and liberation of marginalised communities.
The revolution of the mind is one of the greatest weapons of progress and decolonisation. By transforming collective consciousness and breaking free from mental constraints imposed by external forces, communities like the Ijaw can reclaim their identity, drive self-determined progress, and challenge systems of oppression. This revolution empowers marginalised peoples to assert their agency, nurture cultural pride, and seek sustainable development pathways that align with their values and heritage. In the context of the Tompolo Model, the revolution of the mind stands as a powerful tool for the Ijaw nation to navigate the complexities of modern challenges while staying rooted in their cultural essence.
In conclusion, the Tompolo Model emerges as a potent catalyst for progress, empowerment, and the reclaiming of identity in the Niger Delta. Tompolo’s vision aligns with principles of liberation and self-determination, echoing the transformative ideas of Frantz Fanon and resonating with Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of empowerment. By championing the cause of the Ijaw people and navigating the complexities of tradition and modernity, the Tompolo Model for a mind revolution stands as a powerful framework for transformative change when driven by a commitment to cultural integrity, environmental stewardship, and the empowerment of marginalised communities.