● Citizens groan under four months of blackout as crime surges
● Governor Diri faces mounting criticism over misplaced priorities
In Yenagoa, whispers of desperation and frustration echo louder each day. Netizens lash out at Governor Douye Diri, accusing him of ineffectiveness, while crime rates surge under darkness. What once were bustling communities now simmer with fear, anger, and a sense of abandonment.
Bayelsa’s power outage began in late July when vandals struck, destroying 19 electric towers supplying the state from the national grid. Efforts to restore power have been marred by repeated acts of sabotage, the most recent being the destruction of the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV transmission line. According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), nearly one-third of the conductor on the line was stolen, setting back ongoing repairs by weeks.
TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, revealed that local security had been deployed to protect the damaged infrastructure, but challenges posed by flooding and difficult terrain have hampered progress. Despite assurances that repairs are 85% complete, Bayelsans remain skeptical, their patience wearing thin.
Fear Under the Cover of Night
With no electricity, the streets of Yenagoa and its environs have become havens for criminal activities. Residents, fearful for their safety, recount chilling stories of burglaries, muggings, and other crimes perpetrated under the shroud of darkness.
“I can’t let my children go out after sunset anymore,” laments Mrs. Diepreye Benson, a shop owner in Ovom. “The streets are dangerous, and the police can’t keep up with the rising crime.”
Small businesses, already struggling under Nigeria’s economic woes, have borne the brunt of the outage. Frozen foods rot in powerless freezers, welders sit idle, and artisans lament dwindling incomes. “We’re paying for fuel every day just to survive,” says James Ebikeme, a barber. “It’s killing our businesses.”
Bayelsans have taken to social media platforms to vent their frustrations, with hashtags like #DiriMustActNow and #BayelsaBlackout trending daily. Many accuse Governor Douye Diri of failing to address the crisis decisively, labeling him as weak and ineffective.
Critics highlight Diri’s perceived mismanagement, pointing to the state’s proposed N45 billion Secretariat complex as evidence of misplaced priorities. The sprawling 9-story structure, intended to house civil servants, has sparked outrage among citizens who argue that the funds should be redirected toward addressing immediate challenges, such as power restoration and flood management.
Deacon Felix Wilson, a former candidate for the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, lambasted the governor’s decision as “ill-timed and tone-deaf.” In a statement, he urged Diri to focus on “quick-impact projects” that alleviate the suffering of ordinary Bayelsans.
Bayelsa’s history is rife with unfulfilled potential. Critics point to the state’s abandoned Igbogene fish farm, moribund palm oil plantations, and idle industries as evidence of poor governance over the years. Despite being surrounded by water, residents still lack access to clean drinking water—a cruel irony that underscores the state’s leadership failures.
Wilson’s scathing critique extended to the Diri administration’s handling of a recent teacher recruitment exercise. While the governor initially promised to employ 2,000 teachers, only 950 were ultimately hired, leaving thousands of hopeful applicants disillusioned.
“Bayelsa is rich in resources and opportunities,” Wilson argued. “But without responsive and responsible leadership, we will continue to languish in poverty and neglect.”
The people of Bayelsa are not asking for grandiose projects or lofty promises; they demand basic amenities and functional governance. They want their streets lit, their businesses revived, and their communities secured.
“It’s not about building a fancy Secretariat,” says activist Emmanuel Pere. “We need light. We need jobs. We need hope.”
For now, hope remains elusive. As vandals continue to sabotage efforts to restore power, and as crime casts its long shadow over the state, the people of Bayelsa wait for a leader who will prioritize their needs and deliver on their mandate.
As Governor Diri faces mounting pressure to act decisively, the question remains: Will he rise to the occasion or allow Bayelsa’s lingering darkness to define his legacy? For a state rich in resources but starved of progress, the answer could determine not just its current administration’s fate but its people’s future.
In the meantime, Bayelsans endure—resilient as always but yearning for a glimmer of light, both literal and figurative, to pierce through the suffocating darkness.
