Date Published: 01/25/10
An Open Letter of Appeal from Bayelsa Students in Russia an Belarus
This is to once again appeal to the federal government; the Bayelsa State
house of
Assembly; the Nigerian Bar Association Yenagoa Chapter, the Bayelsa state
council of
elders; churches and all well meaning Nigerians to please come to the aid
of over
150 Bayelsans whose lives and destinies are in jeopardy, thanks to the
nonchalant
and lackluster attitude 0f the Timipre Sylva lead administration of
Bayelsa state.
Our long fears of abandonment that lead to our public outcry and"invasion" of the
Nigerian Embassy Moscow has not yet been averted; we are again struggling
to feed,
with lots of bills to pay.
After the frustration from Sylva that lead to our 'invasion' of the
Embassy and the
public outcry that followed, precisely on the 14th and 15th December 2009,
the
government responded by paying us just half of what was due us between the
months of
September and December 2009. In most schools, they only managed to pay
just the
first semester school fees. More so, there are other allowances still
pending, which
includes: 'project funds', hostel accommodation fees for some depending on
the
school, industrial training/practical allowances for June-August 2009;
extra-classes
allowance and of course our stipends for the months of Jan-March since we
are paid
quarterly. We are not in anyway demanding for an increase, all we want is
for our
allowances to be paid in full, nothing more and nothing less. ["The minute
you
settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled
for".-Maureen
Dowd]
This has become imperative, since we can no longer count on the sincerity
of the
Sylva's lead administration. The question many (students) are asking is,
if they are
true to their claims that, "we have not been abandoned", why has it taken
them this
long (5months) to implement the transfer of our funds, like it has always
been in
previous years and administrations. "Men of genius are admired. Men of
wealth are
envied. Men of power are feared, but only men of character are trusted." -
Arthur
Friedman
Against claims by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student
Affairs,
'Comrade' Mike Olomo in Daily Sun, in a report by Femi Folaranmi of 16th
December.
True, Russia is affected "by the global economic crisis" but that phrase
is no
longer fashionable. The global crisis has not in anyway stopped the Russian
government from paying its student's monthly stipends/allowance. They are
prompt at
doing that. The records are there, to say the lest.
We accepted the half payment in December because we were dying, more so
Christmas
was near. And above all, we were given some level of assurance from the
powers that
be, that, they were going to pay us on or before the 20th January 2010
after the New
Year breaks. We felt assured to a large extent that the person of Sylva
would show
some level of commitment and integrity bearing in mind that no right thinking
individual (how much a government) would be so insensitive, and allow her
dirty
linens to be constantly washed in the public or allow her shortcomings to
be an
object of public discuss perpetually. We had thought the events of the
14th and 15th
December 2009, would serve as a deterrent, considering the stacks:
opposition party,
political enemies and all the rest but, from all indications, the powers
that be
seems not have learnt any lesson from that event. We have therefore
decided to
increase the tempo and make it 'big' for him this time around.
Let me be clear here, no single student of Bayelsa State origin in Russia and
Belarus takes pleasure in fomenting trouble. We are very decent and a
responsible
set of people. Our results, character and conducts are there to speak for
themselves. But, violence seems to be the only language Sylva understands.
However, we appreciate the efforts of the Commissioner of Education Mrs.
Josephine
Izonbodor (JP) and the secretary Bayelsa State scholarship board Mrs
Pekene who as
mothers share collectively in our pains, but there is little they can do as
'government workers' especially under the authoritative leadership of
Adolf Timipre
Sylva. Consequences of their pressing too hard (on our behalf) can best be
imagined
than expressed! We also appreciate the assistance and efforts of the
Ambassador of
Nigeria to Russia, His Excellency major General (Rtd) Timothy Mai
Shelpidi, the
Consular and entire Staffs of the Embassy of Nigeria Moscow. This one hurts
particularly-having to deliberately hurt a friend- it pains....Sobs!!! we
owe them
so much in life. We know how much of our burdens they have carried so far.
Ordinarily, we would not have thought of going to make trouble any where
close to
them. But, fate (thanks to Sylva) seems to have made it so 'special,' in
such a way
that, that seems to be the only way out of this mess for now, we are so
sorry! "In a
state of lawlessness, it is illegal to be law abiding." Gani Fewehimi
1938-2009.
Many have missed delicate class works, assignments and exams. They are
already
facing the risk of being delisted for graduation this year- that is, to
defer their
graduation to June/July 2011. Many are psychological depressed already.
Sad as it
may, we had maintained dialogue with the necessary government officials
responsible
all this while, the lines were always on for some sort of assurance; we
also wrote
several letters of appeal to the Governor. But, all efforts have proved
abortive.
The ship in which we are in, steered by Sylva seems to have finally
grinded to a
halt, and that we won't accept. We have all decided to march all out
(today 25
January, 2010. to the Embassy, comprising of students from all the
chapters both in
Russia and Belarus, to say enough is enough, enough of Sylva playing dice
with our
future.
We want to speak the Language Sylva understands, and we will scream it
loud for him
to hear.
We know, our actions may not augur well for the image of our state and
country,
considering the insane actions of Farouk Matallab; our sick president Yar
Adua (wish
him recovery) plus the Jos crisis, that has left our beloved nation
'naked' at the
mercies, discretion and scrutiny of foreign news media, these past three
and half
weeks. Despite all these, we have vowed resolutely to resist oppression,
using even
the last drop of our blood and by any means possible. Although we are not
politicians but, we will put Timipre Sylva on the spot light and give him
the much
needed publicity, necessary for his second term campaign bid. And again,
to prove to
him that we are also men and women with the same blood flowing through our
veins-
like his children; and that we equally Bayelsans who deserve a 'right to
life and
fair treatment'.
Let me also add that, we are not ignorant, albeit, threats from home! Our
'Comrade
friend' the Special Assistant will not hesitate to mutter a word or two in
defense
of his master, so as to justify his salary. We hope he would readily find
an excuse
in the melting of the arctic (global warming) as the reason for the delay
this time
around.
We equally know announcements will be made on Radio Bayelsa for parents to
warn the
children and 'wards', together with lies and propaganda messages. We also
know the
building of the Embassy of Nigeria Moscow and every car available within its
premises will be set ablaze.
This we know will attract the Russian fire service and police men, who
will invite
their press men-TV. We will resist all arrest come rain or shine- that
will not
happen without 'fresh' blood flowing. CNN International may sure be
interesting.
Then, we will remind CNN and the world that we just want the payment of
our all
allowances from the thirty million Dollars USD ($30million) monthly
allocation"
Sylva told the world Bayelsa state gets from the Federal purse, [In his
tour with
CNN's Christian Purefoy around the government house in Bayelsa, The Glory
Land
Castle, reminiscent of 'MTV Cribs']. We will also tell them, that while he
kept us
waiting since September 2009, that the Bayelsa government have received
over 100
million Dollars USD from the Federal Government. A simple arithmetic,
judging from
Sylva's own words. And we will ask them to justify the actions of Timipre
Sylva; or
the rationality in the statement of his special Assistant- the so called
'comrade'
that 'the state was going through a recess', and so we had to die!
While you read this, work is already at halt in the Embassy of the Federal
Republic
of Nigeria Moscow- Russia; and may be in Flames, if Sylva does not give us a
concrete answer. To buttress our point, we will burn down the official car
of the
Ambassador before any negotiations- if sighted, 'all in the line of duty'!
We shall
have all of them captive until our demands are met.
Thanks for reading, and God bless!!!
You could get feed backs from the following respectable individuals:
Mrs Pekene, the Secretary BSSB: +2348059108740
Commision of Education BYS: +23480366994400
Minister of Education & Consular, Nigerian Embassy Moscow: +79263342118;
+79263704734,LandLine:+ 74956322799
HAD TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE IN THE MORNING,I'LL BE ON BATTLE GROUND!
|
