Bayelsa: Moving ahead with Kelema Okara

BY GODWIN WARIBO

Nigeria is at a point in her political evolution where the benighted citizens across the country regardless of political persuasion are demanding for better performance from government at all levels and accountability in the use of public resources.

While many Nigerians, like most Bayelsans, whine about decline in leadership from the comfort of their homes and smartphones and yet unwilling to show how things can be done differently, Pastor Kelema Okara left his comfort zone in Lagos where he had a very flourishing Legal Practice and a rising Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to serve the good people of Bayelsa and the entire Ijaw nation as a Commissioner and later Secretary to the Government under the leadership of the outgoing governor, Seriake Dickson.

Louis Odion, a popular newspaper columnist wrote recently, “In a democratic environment, it is only by deploying the force of idea in the contestation of what option to pursue in policy conception, formulation and execution that we can hope to make sustainable change possible in our fatherland.”

Since he joined Bayelsa State public service 6 years ago where he has served meritoriously and elevated to the enviable position of SSG from Commissioner, Okara has not done anything else other than deploying his intellectual acumen, mental resources and energy to reposition the economy and well-being of the state and the people. He worked well with the Governor and other cabinet members to deliver value to the people of Bayelsa.

Pastor Opara’s motivation for seeking the mandate of the Peoples Democratic Party’s delegates as the candidate of the party ahead of the party primary slated for September 3 and by extension the entire citizens of the state according to him is, “for the good of all and the love of Bayelsa”. He wants to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of the people.

A passionate lover of his Ijaw nation, Okara who is from Yenagoa Local Government is a close associate of Governor Seriake Dickson, having worked under Dickson, first as Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Investment from 2014 to 2016.

As Commissioner, Kemela Okara set out a clear and ambitious vision to make Bayelsa State – a model of an African economic success story. In collaboration with the United Nation’s Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), a State Industrial policy was articulated early 2016 to leverage on Bayelsa State’s comparative advantage in Oil and Gas Industrial activity; Power generation, Agriculture and Light Manufacturing. That industrial policy he spearheaded has been the underpinning economic philosophy driving the state. Under the policy agenda, the state is expanding infrastructure especially roads, building human capital by upgrading schools from primary to tertiary institutions, overseas scholarships for indigenes, upgrading healthcare facilities and driving socio-economic inclusion in the state. To make Bayelsa attractive to local and international investors, the government built an international airport after many years of false start.

Pastor Okara as part of his responsibilities was also charged with overseeing the hosting of the State’s premier investment promotion platform, the Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum (BSIEF) in 2014 and 2015. The State Investment and Economic Forum has become an important event for the private sector players locally and internationally who genuinely seek to increase their portfolio in the oil-rich state.

As Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara has been a key member of Governor Seriake Dickson’s Restoration Group helping to birth a grand vision for Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation within the context of larger Nigeria federation.

With the current development trajectory of Bayelsa which can be said to have picked up under the outgoing administration, which for all intent and purposes, had been the most deliberate in terms of lifting the state and the people since its creation in 1996, it is instructive to say that the only way Bayelsa can continue on the upward ladder in the quest for sustainable development is a governor with a demonstrable competence and vast private sector network like Okara.

Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation will get and move ahead faster than it is currently moving with Okara. He has the charisma, the gravitas, the comportment and urbane suaveness that are required to run a modern government.

His Governorship pursuit is driven towards the consolidation of the solid legacies of the Seriake Dickson administration in Education, Health and Infrastructure projects that have positively impacted on the life of an average citizen of Bayelsa.

Whatever success that has been seen and applauded in Lagos in the last 20 years is because of the consistency in policy formulation and implementation and the fidelity of the successive administration to continue with the work of the predecessors. The next phase of development of Bayelsa does not call for a run of the mill or professional politician who only seek power for all its appurtenances without the corresponding discipline and know-how to use it for the benefits of the majority who daily seek for better social services.

Bayelsa, beyond Oil and Gas exploration by the international oil companies operating in the state plans to build an integrated and complimentary economy to the oil industry. The state’s advantage in agriculture and production of food for the Niger-Delta region needs to be ramped up. Service sectors like Tourism will provide huge non-oil revenue for the state with a governor that will inspire private sector to partner with the government in these core economic sectors. Okara has developed comprehensive programmes that will catalyze all socio-economic investments of the state to yield better dividends for the people.

Kemela was born over 50 years ago to Robert Papaa Gbaingbain Okara of Bumoundi in Bayelsa State and Esther Bulounimigha Okara (nee Oki) of Patani in Delta State. He was born in London, England. His late Father was a Judge in the old Rivers State Judiciary whilst his late Mother retired as a Deputy Director in the old Rivers State Ministry of Health.

He attended the Township School and Port Harcourt Primary School and later Federal Government College, Enugu and Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Port Harcourt for his secondary school education. Thereafter, he proceeded to the United Kingdom for his “A” Levels after spending a year as a prelim student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He graduated with Honours in Law from the University of Middlesex, London and was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn and later as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He has practiced law, for over 20 years, set up the first bank to bank to bank money transfer service in the United Kingdom and does a huge amount of voluntary work in the not for profit sector. He is a founding partner of Streamsowers and Kohn a major commercial Law firm with offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. He also sits on the board of Arc Lights Limited holders of the Lego franchise for West Africa and parts of North Africa. He is active in the not for profit sector as a Trustee of Freedom Foundation and a Director of KSF Micro Finance Bank. He is also very active in leadership in his local church – This Present House.

A man in perpetual search for personal development, Okara attended an Executive Education Leadership programme at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2002 as part of his preparation for public sector leadership and this training reflected in his excellent performance in public office

In 2007, Okara bagged a certificate in Public Private Partnership Structuring from the Washington Institute for Public, Private Partnerships. As a practicing Lawyer and a successful one to boot, Okara is an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association and International Bar Association. He has attended many of the conferences of NBA and IBA locally and abroad. In matters of Mergers and Acquisitions, Okara is one of the most sought after Lawyers in Nigeria

With his family, professional and public sector pedigree, there is no doubt that Okara possesses the right credentials to lead Bayelsa. None of the other contestants for the PDP ticket in the state can boast of better private and public sector experiences than him, especially, at the executive arm of government.

This is the time for Bayelsa State PDP delegates to be introspective and consider the larger interest of the people of the state and Ijaw Nation within the larger context of Nigeria and vote for the best among those seeking to fly the banner of the party.

Governance has moved to the level where people are asking that the best among us should be given the task to lead. Government is a serious business and only the best is good enough. Bayelsa will move higher with Kemela Opara.