Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
Former special adviser to the Bayelsa State Government on security matters, High Chief Boma Spero-Jack, has emerged as the new chairman of the Bayelsa State Elders Council (BSEC).
Spero-Jack was elected on Monday in Yenagoa alongside other members of the executive committee, including Prof. Alison Oguru as vice chairman; Chief Benedict Guembe, Secretary-General; and Dr. Ezonebi Opubo, assistant secretary.
Other members of the foremost advisory council are High Chief Major Andrew Oputa, treasurer; Madam Ela Douglas, financial secretary; Sir Mathias Otuogha, publicity secretary; Engr. Henry Domo-Spiff, auditor and Hon. O.O. Osusu, as Legal Adviser.
Former deputy governor and the immediate past chairman of the council, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (retd) High Chief Austin Lugbenwei, Ex-Officio; Prof. Ebi Bio Owotua-Efebo, and chief Douyi Naingba are to serve as ex-officio members.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, charged the new leadership to remain firm, objective and politically neutral in discharging its advisory responsibilities to the state.
According to Diri, the council’s wealth of experience places it in a unique position to advise government on critical issues affecting Bayelsa.
He stressed that the effectiveness of the council would depend on its ability to provide honest and independent counsel.
His words, “By way of reminder, you need to separate yourself from partisanship, not only in politics but you need to be firm and objective as a council. You must hold onto these tenets to achieve true success.
“The Governor and his team hold you in high esteem because if you don’t have good elders around you, you can never learn from history. You are people that have seen it all, so please continue to do the good work you are doing; we appreciate you.
“Your role is to majorly advise. If it is engineering, we have it amongst you; if it is governance, security, tradition and other fields of endeavour, we have it here. So where else do we look to? So play your advisory role objectively.”
On value reorientation, he expressed concern that Bayelsans were gradually abandoning farming, trading and fishing, leaving such economic activities increasingly to people from outside the state.
According to him, the trend could lead to more capital flight and affect the cultural and political space of the state if not checked now.
To this end, Senator Diri called on the council to advise government on measures that would encourage Bayelsans, particularly youths, to return to productive activities and preserve societal values.
He disclosed that efforts were being made to institutionalise the elders council through legislation, noting that a proposed bill on community leadership and administration currently before the state house of assembly could provide a framework for recognising the role of the elders’ council.
The governor who congratulated the former and new executive committees, assured that issues raised in the handover report, including stipends, vehicles and land allocation, would receive government attention.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, High Chief Dr. Spero-Jack, pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessor and focus on promoting government and private institutions for the benefit of Bayelsa youths.
He said the council would provide government with consensus-based advice and work with other stakeholders towards finding solutions to challenges facing the state.
In his handover address, the immediate past chairman, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (Rtd.), urged the incoming executive to sustain engagement with the state government and pursue unresolved issues affecting the council.
Reeling out his scorecard, John-Jonah said the council had played its constitutional role as a non-state organization, advising on contemporary issues and addressing welfare matters.
He said the council’s intervention after the devastating 2022 floods led to the establishment of a committee, in collaboration with the Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, to examine the causes of flooding and develop strategies for mitigating future occurrences.
The former deputy governor noted that the council in 2023 established four standing committees covering agricultural development and allied industries, education, national affairs and security with reports and recommendations submitted to government.
On outstanding issues, John-Jonah called for stipends for members, permanent office accommodation and an official vehicle to enhance the operational activities of the elders’ council.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Diri for the support extended to the council during his tenure, as well as the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, as well as other individuals and institutions that supported its activities.
According to him, “I am deeply delighted to welcome you all to this special meeting today is particularly significant because it marks the end of the tenure of the current executive committee of the state elders council and, for me personally, the conclusion of a four-year journey during which I had the privilege of serving as chairman of the council.”
The Spero-Jack-led committee emerged through a consensus process supervised by a 3-member electoral committee with Prof. Kingsley Alagoa as its chairman, Hon. Torpedo Amananaghan as secretary and elder Adolphus Forcados as a member.
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