BAYELSA STILL A GLORIFIED VILLAGE, SAYS ANTI-GRAFT GROUP

AN anti-graft group in Bayelsa State, Bayelsa Zero-Corruption Network, says the predominantly Ijaw state is still a glorified village 12 years after its creation. The state was created by the late General Sani Abacha regime on October i, 1996.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the Co-ordinator of the group, Pastor Bannerman Embiowei, claimed that corruption has been holding the state down from the path of rapid growth.

''As a group, we have noticed that instead of developing the rural areas, our political leaders are busy enriching themselves with our commonwealth. In their primitive accumulation, they have forgotten to erect a monumental structure in honour of the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, at Kaiama'', the group said.

The obviously angry Bayelsa group also indicted their royal fathers, claiming that they are part of the ''vultures'' feasting on the state. ''Since the creatio of our state 12 years ago, our traditional rulers are in league with the plundering political class to devour resources meant for the develpment of the state'', they alleged.

According to the group spokesman, ''as i speak with you, the ordinary people are yet to feel the impact of the oil revenue flowing into our state via monthly allocati9ons. There is nothing in practical terms to write home about the state 12 years after. There is no good drinking water, well equipped primary and secondary schools, and health centres throughout the communities''

''In our view'', they went on, ''Bayelsa state is still largely a glorified village. For us, past and present leades are to be blamd for the state of affairs in the state. For them, leadership position is a vehicle to loot the public till at the expense of the people''.

In the mean time, media handlers of Governor Timipre Sylva, said while reacting that they cannot join issues with a group that did not make any specific allegation against the Sylva administration. A male voice who spoke for the Chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola, said, ''we cannot comment on a mere blanket accusation''.

The group is, however, claiming that public functionaries in the state are busy investing in the transport and hotel sectors of the state economy.