*SDD AND THE BURDEN OF THE SUCCESSOR*

This title could as well have been 'HSD and the burden of the predecessor' because what happens to a successor reflects on the predecessor in one way or the other and vice-versa.

In Southern Nigeria, even states like Lagos that have attained a level of maturity in their politics with the advantage of multiple succession cycles, still contend with associated issues in varying degrees.

The case of Bayelsa is particularly unique and what accounted for this is that the state experienced its maiden succession program, interestingly flavoured with an election outcome where an INEC declared governorship candidate and his deputy were disqualified and replaced by a supreme court judgement, hours to their swearing in ceremony.

It is therefore not strange at all for many Bayelsans who are observers of the recent political events in the state, to supply feedback from an uninformed point of view as they are unaccustomed to such linear succession and it's aftermath.

However, the buck stops at the table of the successor/predecessor duo. If the aftermath of the succession program is viewed as a game, then the journey through the succession aftermath maze becomes a rewarding experience where participants supposedly have a unified goal of balancing their expectations otherwise, observers with varying bias interests, are on standby to escalate any issue into a conflict.

It therefore places a demand on communication between the duo and with the observers too. The communication lines between the successor and predecessor must remain open to ensure they are both on the same page at all times while observers are equally being updated. This perhaps is what is lacking in the case of Bayelsa.

The recent call on SDD to step up his game has been interpreted by certain observers as outright attacks emerging from his predecessor. This is one of the myopic and misleading inferences observers have capacity to generate and project when they are not properly engaged.

It is worthy of note that *project Bayelsa* is not a reserve of the former governor alone. The projects executed by the former governor are for all Bayelsans regardless of party affiliation, dialect, gender or age. Hence, whether or not things are advancing as expected, there must be complaints from all quarter.

What the successor, in this case SDD must bear in mind is that his successes or failures impacts directly on his predecessor. Any attack on SDD is a direct attack on the choice, decision and sacrifice of his predecessor as well as his team.

Therefore the source of the perceived media attacks is irrelevant as long as it is a call for improvement. Focus introduces blindness and as such, uncensored feedback from all corners regardless of the perceived intents, are pointers to something that needs to be done.

What is most critical at this point is the understanding that succession is challenging but with good communication the successor and predecessor aftermath maze will be easier to navigate.

Observer management is equally critical as they tend to be bias and selfish with their interpretation of issues, and would communicate such to advance their interests.

Any succession program is akin to an academic degree program and it is the hope of many that in six years time God willing, SDD will equally midwife a succession program deploying the knowledge gained from this experience.

I am Doubrapade Angiama
The voice of reasoning.