Cover Story
An Adopted Son!
In a deft political move, the Bayelsa State legislature, interest groups and individuals adopt Governor Goodluck Jonathan as sole candidate for the 2007 governorship election

By Lawson Heyford, Yenagoa

It was the late sage and Nigeria’s foremost leader, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who once declared that “good governance in Nigeria is scarce, not because it is not achievable, but basically because good and selfless people are not interested in public life”. Many decades after the late statesman made this statement, events from across the country so far, have proved that indeed those were words of wisdom, inspired from the inner-most reflection of a great mind. And in making the utterance, perhaps, Azikwe now of the blessed memory had in mind a state like Bayelsa with the acronym “The Glory of All Lands” which had been plagued by “lack of good governance” since October 1, 1996 when it was being decreed into by the late Head of State, Sani Abacha.

Governor Goodluck Jonathan, the executive Governor of Bayesla State, Nigeria

Indeed, prior to December 12, 2005, Bayelsa State had in the words of famed playwright and human rights crusader, late Dr. Ken Saro-Wiwa, suffered from “environmental degradation, political marginalisation and economic deprivation”. That was the period when it was as if darkness had enveloped the state, stalling human and socio-infastructural development of the centre piece of the Niger Delta.
But when about six months ago, by circumstantial occurrence, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan , a lecturer-turned politician, was catapulted from his meek position as deputy governor to the chief executive seat of the State, Bayelsans somewhat heaved deep sighs of relief, describing his emergence as a classic case of a Daniel coming to judgement.
Although an unwilling horse, thus justifying Azikiwe’s earlier assertion, Jonathan has, however, since mounting the saddle demonstrated uncanny humility, transparency and honesty in his governance of the 10-year-old state. In fact, he had on assumption of office left no discerning mind in doubt as to his ability to change the face of Bayelsa and transform the landscape of the state. Indeed, within the six months that he has been at the helm of affairs, Jonathan had proved critics wrong with the plethora of development projects, including the deliberate efforts to open up the rural areas through the construction of roads that would link the three senatorial districts, mainly the riverine parts of Bayelsa, to Yenagoa, the State capital.
In recent time, the media has been awash with varied messages of praise on the governor for being a true statesmen who is detribalised, focused and imbued with the fear of God, culminating in his government’s avowed commitment to justice, fairness and equity in the administration of the state.

Interview “Governor Jonathan is God-Sent” – Chief Perekeme Richard-Kpodoh, a former governorship aspirant in Bayelsa State under the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) By Lawson Heyford, Yenagoa No doubt, you are aware of the resolution passed by the State House of Assembly, urging Governor Goodluck Jonathan to continue in office beyond 2007. What is the implication of such an action? I do not think there is any negative political implication. What this means is that the lawmakers have by that decision adjudged the governor a performer. And I agree with them. Governor Jonathan has done very well in terms of human, social and political development. Besides these developmental achievements, the governor is very accommodating and sensitive to the plight of the people. He is a man with the fear of God in him and this shows in everything he does. What other qualities have endeared him to you to the extent that you think that the House of Assembly should endorse him? Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is not just a governor, but a human leader that has no equal in this part of the country. He is very calculative, with good listening ears and is ready to inconvenience himself for the sake of others, especially if the interest of the state is at stake. I can tell you clearly that the common and popular view of the people is that Jonathan remains the best of all the aspirants in the forthcoming 2007 election. None of the known three governorship aspirants in the state can match the governor. Without boasting, he remains the aspirant to beat. We are on ground and we know that he is the only man – there are no two ways about it. There is the complaint, however, that the state PDP hierarchy has been hijacked by one of the governorship aspirants. Don’t you think that this could rob off negatively on the governor? As far as we are concerned, Bayelsa has no state, local government and ward executives of the PDP. There is no executive at all. What we have, unfortunately, is a group of hand-picked individuals holding brief for the proper executive which we are hoping will be put in place soon– after the on-going national reconciliation efforts of the party. But even if the situation remains the same, we are certain that Jonathan will still carry the day because even a blind person in the state can attest to the fact that the governor has done perfectly well. I had the opportunity of working under the former Governor, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, as well as the present Governor. Comparatively, I can say, without mincing words, that Jonathan is by far better and with him Bayelsans will not regret. What we need now is a peaceful conducive atmosphere for genuine and meaningful development. He is already completing old projects which he inherited and is even embarking on new ones– unlike what used to be the case where a new person would abandon old projects. Indeed, Governor Jonathan is God-sent.

This humane character of Jonathan’s has equally earned him accolades from even those perceived as his political enemies and opponents. It is, perhaps, this widespread acceptance of his style of administration that prompted individuals, groups, corporate organisations, labour unions, students, traders and others to contend that the period left for Jonathan to accomplish his loaded programmes for Bayelsans is too short and therefore he needs more time to take the state to its eldorado.
Consequently, in the past one month, these groups, institutions and individuals have been mounting pressures on Jonathan to continue in office, even beyond 2007. Like wild fire, the call on the governor, which started officially on May 29, during the celebration of this year’s Democracy Day in Yenagoa, is spreading fast across the 40 local governments councils and Development Authorities in the State. At the Cenotaph, venue of the celebration, also attended by politicians from the different political parties, various banners and posters adorned the area, prompting Jonathan to publicly declare his intention to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state– a development which many have aptly described as the “primaries before the primaries”.
And only two weeks ago, the 24- member State House of Assembly unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Governor Jonathan and his deputy, Peremobowei Ebebi, for the unprecedented developmental strides so far recorded, and so urged the executive governor and his deputy to continue in office come 2007. In a resolution dated June 9, 2006, the legislature noted the achievements of Jonathan’s administration in the “annals of the history of the state in all sectors of the economy”. Particularly, the lawmakers said they were overwhelmed by the fact that such feat could be achieved within a period of six months of the regime so far.
The speaker of the legislature, Werinipre Seibarugu, told The Source last week that even though they are aware of the existence of some other governorship aspirants in the state, the resolution of the state legislature, was in the best interest of the generality of Bayelsans and the State. Saying they had no apology for their action, the speaker said as true representatives of the different constituencies in the state, they have by the resolution, which was unanimous including the only Alliance for Democracy (AD) member, spoken the minds of their constituents and therefore, no other aspirant would be tolerated in the state, especially under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He pleaded that rather than dissipate energy and waste resources, the other aspirants should team up with Jonathon to take the state to greater heights. Seibarugu dismissed insinuations that the lawmakers were induced to adopt the resolution. Instead, he said that they were influenced mainly by the overwhelming human and socio-infrastructural development of the State. Seibarugu opined that as a state that is in a hurry to develop, Bayelsa does not require any political action that could take it backward, socially, economically and politically. The Speaker expressed the hope that the PDP primaries in the state would be a mere formality, as adequate monitoring system, he said, had been put in place to ensure the effective implementation of their resolution to the letter. Although he admitted that some lawmakers were being invited by the other aspirants to attend nocturnal meetings, Seibarugu remains optimistic that none of them would go contrary to the agreement of June 6, 2006.
Instructively, jubilations greeted the bold and courageous step of the State House of Assembly, which many see as the magic wand in the PDP governorship primaries in the State.
Chief Perekeme Richard-Kpodoh, a former governorship aspirant under the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), said the Assembly’s resolution was not just a welcome development, but the needed tonic for the political stability of the State. Richard-Kpodoh, who soon after the 2003 elections pitched his tent with the PDP, said that the 2007 election was won the very day the Assembly passed its resolution on Governor Jonathan. He described Jonathan as amiable, calculated, accommodating and sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state.
Bayelsa State was created out of the old Rivers State, with only eight local government councils 10 years ago. Unable to create more LGAs because of constitutional barriers, its former governor established Rural Development Authorities to perform the same role of bringing governance to the grassroots. Each of the Authorities was being given the sum of five million naira until recently when Governor Jonathan created eight additional Development Authorities and increased their monthly allocation to N10million a piece.
With the financial burden on the councils now reduced considerably, especially the removal of primary schools from them, chairmen of the 40 local government councils and Development Authorities now have cause to celebrate and thank God for blessing them with an “understanding and listening governor” whom most of them have described more as a father than a leader. Their joy knew no bounds when recently the government came up with a policy of building beautiful edifices as secretariats at the 24 Development Authorities headquarters, apart from the brand new Toyota Corolla vehicles that were purchased for the chairmen.
Comrade Kennedy Major-Odiowei, chairman of the newly created Tourabobou Development Authority was very appreciative of the government gesture for which, according to him, fund was not deducted from their allocation, although The Source later gathered that a paltry amount was being deducted monthly.
Perhaps, it was a combination of all these factors that propelled the solidarity shown the governor by the 40 council chief executives who in unison urged Jonathan to launch out his campaign for the 2007 polls. They pledged their unalloyed moral and financial support to ensure the governor’s victory at the primaries’ with some of them even daring other aspirants to come for campaigns in their LGAs.
For instance, both Sagbama and Southern Ijaw Local Government areas have been declared “no-go-areas” for all governorship aspirants, except Jonathan. Monday Bubou Obolo, chairman of Southern Ijaw, the LGA of former Governor Alamieyeseigha and Biowei Cyril Akpoebi, chairman of Sagbama LGA, said they have concluded plans to publicly adopt Jonathan as their sole candidate in the governorship election next year in order for him to stabilise and concretise his developmental projects in the state.
For the twosome, it is Governor Jonathan or nobody else, as they contended that the governor’s people-oriented programmes within a six-month period stood him out as a silent achiever, who given a longer tenure in office, could turn the landscape of the state around.
Akpoebi and Obolo referred to the resolution by the legislators as a good launch pad for the 2007 “operation conquer”, the code-name they wish to use to silence the opposition in their LGAs. Obolo said that inspite of the fact that their son, Alamieyeseigha ruled the state for over six years, Jonathan’s six months stay in office so far had brought hope and sense of belonging to the Southern Ijaw people, especially with the commencement of work on the abandoned Yenagoa-Oporuma-Ukubie road. The road project was started by the administration of Alfred Diete-Spiff in the old Rivers State in 1971, but had since been abandoned, until Jonathan awarded the contract for the construction of the bridge to link the LGA with the State capital.
Obolo: “By the project, the chiefs and people of Southern Ijaw have decided that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan should continue in office, even beyond 2007. We had never felt the impact of any past government as much as under the present administration. The governor has touched our lives as individuals and as an LGA. Our support for him is total . . . no other aspirant is welcome here on campaign”.
The chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Bayelsa State and chairman of Yenagoa LGA, Boloubo Orufa, capped it all up when he declared: “No vacancy in Creek Haven (Government House), Yenagoa”. Orufa said that with at least 80per cent of Bayelsans solidly behind the governor, the PDP primaries and even the 2007 election proper is a mere formality. speaking prophetically, he said as a leader ordained by God, Jonathan will win the primaries and the election and bring the dividends of democracy to the people.
Jonathan, in line with his policy of rural development, has added another feather to his cap by visiting some communities which since inception had never hosted such government functionaries. Ayibabiri community in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, the ancestral home of the Executive Director, Finance/Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, is one such area where Governor Jonathan was reportedly told: “this is the first time our community is hosting these calibre of people”. Jonathan had visited there to commission a landing jetty project on May 26, 2006. The elated community rolled out drums to celebrate the event and in their ecstasy they made a clarion call on the governor to contest the 2007 gubernatorial election.
The traditional ruler of the community, accompanied by his chiefs, elders and the entire people including the young and old, came out displaying Jonathan’s posters “because of our conviction that no Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, no 2007 for Bayelsa. This is the prima facie of our collective decision, vision and interest. We hope that you will accept this our humble request. You are a true son of Izon-Ibe, because you have demonstrated a sincere readiness to shoulder the responsibility of our collective growth and development. With all these successes, recorded in such a short span of time, we have no doubt in our minds that if given the opportunity, much more will definitely be achieved”.
The same was the case with the Ogu and Okiki communities in Yenagoa and Ogbia local government areas, respectively. Three weeks ago, the chiefs, elders and people of the two communities came out in their numbers to welcome Governor Jonathan, who was there to commission rural electrification projects as part of the constituency projects given out to members of the State House of Assembly. The people in their various speeches, praised the governor for identifying with them, confessing that it was the first time a serving governor would be visiting their area. In all the places visited, the event was turned into a political jamboree as the people beckoned on Jonathan to heed the clarion call to contest next year’s governorship polls.

Interview ‘Why we adopted Jonathan’ –Hon. Werinipre Seibarugu, Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly By Lawson Heyford, Yenagoa Recently, the State House of Assembly passed a resolution urging Governor Goodluck Jonathan to continue in office beyond 2007, what exactly does the legislature mean by that? It is a very simple resolution. As people representing our various constituencies, we felt convinced that the governor has done so very well within a very short period, both in his socio-infrastructural and human developmental agenda. This is very clear for everybody to see; we have seen, our people have also seen. In view of this, we deemed it necessary to pass a vote of confidence on him, urging him to continue in office. Let me throw more light on this issue, because some of us, I mean the entire masses of this state, are feeling convinced that Bayelsa State was created only about six months ago– the period of this administration. We have seen so many places being opened, the roads, houses, water, electricity, agriculture, health, education and infact, we are shifting the forest from the main town to make for more land. That is what we have been waiting to see and that is what we need. We are happy . . . our people, our constituencies are happy and that is why we passed that resolution calling on Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to contest and win the 2007 election and continue to administer this state till 2011 and beyond. That is the opinion of the people because our feeling is their feeling, we are the people representing them. We regularly interact with them, we always listen to them and liaise with them. Are you saying that before you made the resolution, each lawmaker visited his constituency and got their support? Yes, of course, we always visit our various constituencies almost every other day. Like in my constituency, I visit there every two days– just as I returned a few hours ago before you came in to interview me today. Members of our constituents meet us here (Yenagoa) too. There is a feeling of joy and happiness everywhere because they have seen remarkable changes, things that have eluded them over the years. Change, of course, is the only permanent thing in life and we all desire positive change as we are seeing under this administration. In fact, like I said before, so many are feeling as if Bayelsa State was created only late 2005. The feeling amongst the opposition is that the governor has not actually performed to the expectation of the people whom you are representing. By this resolution are you saying that those constituencies are also saying that the governor should continue in office beyond 2007? Oh! yes. The decision was unanimous, the whole house unanimously agreed. Repeatedly, I asked if there was any contrary view and there was none. All of us, including the only AD member agreed to the resolution. The gallery was full and we took that decision before everybody. Those people who are criticising are not here, they stay in Port Harcourt and visit the state only to cast aspersions on somebody. They do this for selfish reasons, to contest elections with a view to forcefully take over and run the state aground. Such selfish people are blinded to the various developments taking place in parts of the state within a short period of six months. They are introducing a brand of politics that does not have any bearing with the Bayelsa people. If you want to be a leader, you must first learn to appreciate the little efforts of others before you aspire to lead. A situation where you don’t see anything good in what another person does, unless it is you, is very very bad and does not show good leadership qualities. This administration is building houses, health centres, renovating schools, constructing roads and opening up our rural villages and somebody is saying the governor has not done anything much. Human capital development is the highest in the history of Bayelsa State since its creation in 1996. Regardless, there has been grumblings in different quarters since the Assembly passed that resolution. How then would you react to insinuations that a lot of water might have passed under the bridge? Well, that is the general thinking, but I can tell you without mincing words that there is nothing like that. It is unfortunate that our genuine intentions are being misconstrued to mean that we were lobbied to do what we did. As lawmakers, they believe that we have been lobbied. But I can tell you that there was nothing of that nature. The resolution, even the critics know was done genuinely and with genuine intentions. These critics equally know– if not for their selfish ambitions– that what the administration has done within this period is commendable. If somebody feels that some water had passed under the bridge before we took that decision, then it is unfortunate. And you know what? The governor was even persuaded to suspend his planned trip outside the state to attend the session of the Assembly where we jointly took that decision and handed over a copy of the resolution to him. So, there was nothing like inducement or whatever name you decide to call it. We felt duty bound to inform the people of the state, as their true representatives, that Governor Goodluck Jonathan has done very well and that was exactly what we did collectively, without any form of persuasion, but with the genuine interest of the future of the state and her citizens in mind. Considering that there are other governorship aspirants in the state, what message are you sending to such aspirants by your resolution? The message is very clear. The state belongs to all of us. What we are simply saying is that if somebody is working and you know this is the true position, just come out and encourage the person. Let them come out and join hands with Goodluck Jonathan to build the Bayelsa of our own time. We cannot all be leaders at the same time. The person there, we all have agreed, is doing well and that is it. Politics does not end one day, if this is not their time, next time could be theirs. The only way to encourage somebody who is working hard for the state and her citizens is to say thank you and that is all we expect from our people. Individual ambitions should not override the general interest of the state. When politics comes like this so many people come out to aspire and many more aspirants will come. But the question is how many of them genuinely have the interest of the people and the state at heart? We are not saying they should not come, they should come and work towards the progress and development of the state and not come and contest and set confusion. We have seen a good and exemplary administration and that is the message we are passing to our people. So, if there is any other aspirant, we owe them no apology in telling our people that Goodluck Jonathan is the only path to progress, human and infrastructural development of the state. All that is happening is politics and they know they cannot win. Bayelsa needs to move forward. What impact do you think this resolution of yours will have on PDP as a party during the primaries? We, as legislators have sent a message – the party knows that this resolution which we have taken is the best thing that would have happened to the party and the state. The party is aware and they are happy, except for a few individuals for their selfish reasons. The Assembly has never disappointed the party nor the state, so it is with the resolution we have passed. Although PDP has not really fixed a date for its primaries, but suppose the primaries goes the other way, will it then be correct to say that the Assembly members did not represent their constituencies well? I do not think about something like that because such a thing will never happen. I am not thinking towards that at all. Our resolution is a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the masses of Bayelsa State. Mr. Speaker, what exactly is the implication of the decision of the state legislature? It is a very clear matter. When the Assembly passes a vote of confidence on a serving state governor, it means that, that law making body has adopted that candidate as its own sole candidate for an election. And that is precisely what we have done in the case of Governor Goodluck Jonathan. He is our only governorship candidate. No other candidate and come 2007, we shall in one voice deliver him as the second elected governor of the state. Our decision, therefore, has no negative, but positive political implication on the party, the state and the people. By what we have done, everybody in this state has adopted him as the only candidate for the governorship election in 2007. We are all on ground and we shall take steps to stop anybody that will come from nowhere to impose himself or herself on the people with a view to causing chaos and anarchy in the state. Politics being what it is and politicians being whom they are– how would you react to a situation where some of your colleagues would later deviate from your stance, to back another candidate? That situation is definitely not possible. We are aware of the several meetings they (other aspirants) have been holding and inviting our members, but they don’t attend. If they attend such meetings at night, it might just be to play or please them, but I can assure you that our support for Jonathan is total. We passed the resolution during the day and not at night and it will be during daytime that the primaries or election will be held, so I can’t see anyone of us going astray. There is no known Judas amongst us for now, to the best of my knowledge. So, we don’t have any fear.

Apart from the myriad road projects, the governor, realising that knowledge is, indeed, power, took a revolutionary approach to boost the standard of education through deliberate effort to reduce to the barest minimum the level of illiteracy in the state. To ensure a hitch-free educational system, Jonathan directed the newly inaugurated Universal Basic Education (UBE) Board in the State to pay the backlog of salaries owed primary school teachers who had been on strike to protest the non-payment of their wages. Further, he removed the management of primary schools from local government councils. In uplifting the standard of education in the state, the governor adopted the policy of payment of the yearly WAEC and NECO examination fees for students of Bayelsa State origin in post-primary schools in the state. The state government also paid over N400million for the National UBE scheme as its counterpart fund for 2005.
Other bold steps by Governor Jonathan in the educational sector include the construction of a School for Gifted children in Sagbama town; school for Talented Children at Otuoke, the governor’s home town; Teachers Training School at Okordia Zarama; renovation of 250 primary and secondary schools; construction of classroom blocks and school buildings and the on-going construction of six classroom blocks each for 50 primary and secondary schools in the state. Jonathan’s administration is also upgrading facilities at the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, the country home of impeached Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. He established the K. Williamson Centre for the Development and Teaching of the Ijaw Language in Schools in the state, just as the regular payment of bursaries and award of scholarships to indigent Bayelsa students in tertiary institutions within and outside the country.
As a means of boosting the transportation system and creating wealth for the people, Jonathan commissioned for use, 100 Peugeot partner vehicles for commercial purposes within the state and beyond. He also donated an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus to each of the 22 unions in the state and other vehicles to various ministries and departments of government. For easy communication, the governor has embarked on some road projects including the Ekkoli bridge; the Amassoma-Ogobiri-Toru-Ebeni road, the Nembe-Brass road and the new gate-way road into Yenagoa
Realising also that health is wealth, Jonathan approved the payment of medical allowance to its work force, including 18 months arrears of N45,000 to each civil servant in the state, just as he has increased the monthly minimum wage of N7,500 to the current rate of N10,000 for civil servants.
Besides, he commissioned for use mobile clinics and medical services ambulances; upgraded facilities at the General Hospital, Okolobiri while work is in progress at the 500-bed hospital in Yenagoa. The government also commenced construction work on phase II of the Ekeki Housing project in Yenagoa, just as plans are afoot to construct a new Yenagoa model city from a virgin land.
In all sectors of the economy, including power, tourism, poverty alleviation, peace and security, employment and youth empowerment, Jonathan has demonstrated that there was need for the people to always feel the impact of government, and so is poised to leave a legacy for posterity.
It is, perhaps, with this in mind that the governor has always encouraged his commissioners and other political appointees to at all times, work for the good of the people and leave the judgment of who their leader is to the populace. Obviously, this is in consonance with the aphorism that power lies with God– and that the voice of the people is the voice of God.
Indeed, going by the varied but copious calls on the governor to contest the 2007 election, it could well be that the people through these voices have spoken and maybe, by extension God has equally spoken. Politically too, considering the various people that may vote in the primaries: commissioners, state and national legislators, party officials, local government chairmen et cetera, pundits believe that Jonathan remains the aspirant to beat, even though like the others too, he is yet to publicly heed the diverse calls. But even at that opinions are quite strong that even with the hijack of the state party leadership down to the wards, Governor Jonathan still holds the ace. In politics and elections, a lot of permutations and horse-trading are involved and the next few months would be quite instructive in this regard. For now, however, it is clear that the fingers of Bayelsans are pointing at the Otueke end of the state in search of a post-May 2007 governor. His name: Jonathan; his wand: Goodluck.

A Man Called Goodluck It is inconceivable that when he was christened Goodluck about 47 years ago, the parents of the executive governor of Bayelsa State had an inkling they had given their son a prophetic name. However, through a combination of events, fate eventually smiled on Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on December 12, 2005 when he was plucked from the position of deputy governor, where he had been “marooned” since 1999, to succeed his disgraced boss, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as the governor of his oil-rich state. On March 21, 2006, he marked his first 100 days in office. A man of both humble and easy disposition, Dr. Jonathan did not celebrate the milestone by rolling out drums and cymbals. Instead, he considered it an appropriate time to restate his commitment to rendering selfless service to Bayelsa State. One hundred days ago when he was sworn in, he had told Bayelsans in his maiden address: ..."All I know is that a great challenge has been thrown to me. I have no choice in the matter. I must take charge of the affairs of Bayelsa State and remove the stain of shame and distress that has been stamped upon us. I consider this to be a sacred duty. Today, I enjoin my fellow Bayelsans, and indeed all people of Ijaw stock not to be dampened by the sour events of the recent past. On the contrary, I urge one and all to use the incident to reposition the state for a better future”. Although Dr. Jonathan, who holds a doctorate in Zoology from the University of Port-Harcourt, believes that the expectations of his people are high, he concedes that 100 days is too short a time for any meaningful achievement to have been recorded by his administration, or any government for that matter. According to him, it would be a big miracle for any governor to actually record any significant achievement within 100 days, adding “any governor who attempts to convince his people that he can perform magic in 100 days will only end up in a way that he will not be happy with himself”. Even so, Jonathan, born on November 20, 1957, aware of the dearth of developmental projects in the state and propelled by his administration’s determination to evenly develop all parts of the state, quickly put Bayelsa State on the fast lane of development with a budgetary provision of N125, 945,208,629.00 for this year. It was this desire that made him to identify some uncompleted or abandoned projects initiated by the immediate past administration, with a view to completing them, promptly. For instance, out of the 34 lodges for Youth Corpers posted to the state, his government within its first 100 days completed 14 for use, just as it has also embarked on the completion of some faculty buildings at the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma to facilitate the registration of courses by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The state government has also commenced construction work on a five-star hotel and on the three major roads linking the state capital, Yenagoa to the three senatorial districts of Bayelsa West, East and Central. For any concrete achievement to be recorded, the governor had said that a full year would be needed for him to make an impact. He believes that by the time his administration would be one year in office, an average Bayelsan would be proud of the present government. But after only six months in office, Jonathan's developmental strides appears to be so evident that an array of Bayelsans: lawmakers, politicians, traditional rulers students and women groups are calling on him to run for governorship in 2007. Described as a philanthropist, technocrat, democrat, and an astute politician, Jonathan is a distinguished scholar, and member of some professional bodies including the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN); Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON); Fellow of the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA); Fellow of the Public Administrators of Nigeria and Honorary Fellow of the Nigeria Environmental Society. Besides his membership of these bodies, the governor has chalked up pluses as a seasoned administrator and for his dedication to service, resulting in his earning several awards such as “Best Performing Deputy Governor; Exemplary Leadership Quality and Good Governance and Honorary Award for Democracy and Good Governance”. Recently, he was adopted by the 24-member Bayelsa State. House of Assembly as sole candidate for next year's governorship election.