![image](https://img.esteem.ws/m6hvyiqnr3.jpg)Before the establishment of the famous and very prestigious Niger Delta University (NDU) by our great sage, legend and now god who is dwelling with our great Ancestors, Chief Diepreye Peter Sunday Alamieyeseigha, Ph.D JP the first Executive Governor of Bayelsa State and Governor General of the Niger Delta, Bayelsa State was listed among the educationally disadvantaged states. Our people were very backward in terms of university education, when compared to other states. 

But the establishment of NDU overtime has changed all that. In order to make university education very affordable by all, the Alamieyeseigha administration made NDU almost tuition free. The school fees remained very low such that even children of the poorest of the poor could afford. Our leader, father and hero Dr. Goodluck Jonathan continued that established tradition without increasing School Fees. Chief Timipre Sylva did not only maintain the status quo, he owned NDU and funded it like his private university. He gave that school unimaginable support. NDU enjoyed the highest level of support, funding and patronage during the Chief Timipre Sylva administration and I can tell you that if it was possible, the university management would have renamed that great citadel: TIMIPRE SYLVA UNIVERSITY (TSU). 

Throughout the above period in review, there were no Strikes because there were no reasons for Strike. As a matter of fact, the NDU Chapter of ASUU always refused to join ASUU National Strikes, they rather preferred to pay Fine because they never wanted the disruption of the successive Academic Calendars. 

The university management reciprocated the gestures of the government by providing quality, undiluted education. The Academic Sessions were also very fast. Students at admission were very sure of their dates and months of graduation. As a matter of fact, NDU Academic Calendar was the fastest or among the fastest in the whole country. The above positive omen has yielded so much good result in terms of the almost unbelievable number of graduates from NDU. 

This unique Ivory Tower has graduated over Sixteen Thousand sound and very outstanding Graduates who are doing very well in their respective endeavours. We have Diplomats in various Foreign Missions, Military Officers in the various Military and Paramilitary Agencies, outstanding Men and Women of God, very productive Medical Doctors, Engineers, Accountants, Social Scientists and other fields and professions. NDU products are equally doing very well in secular politics. NDU has produced a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly late Hon. Delight Igali, we have a Commissioner in the Bayelsa State Executive Council, Hon. Ebitei Apaingolo and countless Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and other appointees. NDU will produce so many members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, National Assembly and even the Governor or Deputy Governor come 2019/2020. 

It is however very unfortunate that all that have become history since the advent and inception of the Restoration Government. School Fees has sky rocketed to high heavens far above the reach of even average Bayelsans forcing children of the poor to drop out of school due to their inability to pay their fees. NDU School Fees as shown above is almost same amount paid in some private universities. NDU is speedily becoming Elitist, school meant for only children of the Elites. This is largely responsible for the current embarrassing illiteracy rate and level in Bayelsa State. The number out of school young men and women is alarming.

There is a School of Thought that Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson is doing everything within his power to shutdown NDU in order to promote the newly established Africa University, Toru-Orua which is not far from the truth. The beautiful and very gigantic structures in the new Africa University can never be found in NDU that is about 16years old. The recent directive for posting of over 2000 NDU Non-academic Staff to Africa University is not only condemnable but anti-people. 

The sad question here is: Must Governor Henry Seriake Dickson close down NDU in order to build and promote the Africa University in his hometown Toru-Orua? 

If the answer is: YES! Then what will happen when he leaves office in  February 2020? Because the incoming Governor will also close down Africa University and open another university in his community or change the present Africa University to a campus of NDU.

Let Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson think! Political power is transient. It is called: "TURN BY TURN NIGERIA LIMITED". So, do not destroy the works and efforts of your predecessors simply because you want to prove to the world that you are working. Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Delta and other States that are development models in Nigeria never achieved their heights through antagonistic tendencies. 

The 5 Five Star Hotel, 500 Bed Space Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital, Bayelsa State Library, the Glory Drive now Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Way and other abandoned projects that were started by other administrations are all begging for attention. 

Advice and constructive criticisms are all key ingredients and pillars of democracy so we should never be seen as enemies.