Bayelsa 2023: LP’s candidate shines as Diri, Sylva shun debate

The governorship Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, showcased his manifesto at a debate organised on Monday evening for candidates ahead of the November 11 election.

The candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gov Douye Diri, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Simeon Imomotimi Karioru, were absent and failed to send representatives.

The debate, which was held in Yenagoa  was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Ijaw Diaspora Council (IDC), Institute of Mass Communication & Information Management of Nigeria, and Kabkaechi.

Apart from Eradiri, candidates of Accord Party, Idikio Warmate , Action Peoples Party, Mercy Kemelayefa Ogege and Social Democratic Party (SDP) Binalayefa Osuluku, were present at the debate. 

Eradiri, whose articulation of issues and vision drew applauds from the audience, said he was in the race to salvage Bayelsa from the grip of failed politicians, adding that he will demystify politics of money.

He said he had signed a pact with the people of the state with his People, Education, Agriculture, Power (PEAP) agenda.

Eradiri said:  “We will concentrate on the people, because once you have the people you can succeed. we will revive the drug distribution company, in order to put a stop to the further spread of fake drugs across the state. We will introduce new cities, higher grounds so that we can stop devastating flooding in the state.

“We will address the issue of gender, people living with disability, to ensure they have a sense of belonging in the government of the day and Bayelsa will become a better place for all of us.

“We want to invest in the creative industry. We will allocate N1billion every year to deal with the barrier that won’t allow our young people to grow. Also in sport, we will provide and expand the sporting facilities we have to build more talents”.

Eradiri promised that if elected he would prioritise teachers’ employment, welfare, training employ teachers and introduce information technology and skills development education.

On agriculture, he said: “We will revive the economy of Bayelsa through agriculture. We will produce sugar when we revamp the sugarcane plantations in Southern Ijaw that are untamed. We will invest in Otuokpoti rice farm because they are original rice growers.

“We will produce power in the state. We will take advantage of the 243 megawatts power plant in Gbarain community, using the federal government policy on power generation”.

To address the security challenges in the state, Eradiri said he would revive the moribund companies to create employments for the youths and women. 

He said: “We will be able to identify those who are into crime just for the quest of survival and deal with those who have chosen a life of crime. I intend to have eyes all over the state. We will come up with a policy that every business place must have a CCTV camera installed outside the complex. Every network provider mast must have a high resolution camera. 

“As part of the social responsibility of the telecom companies, we will build observation points at every office of the conventional security agencies, and also revamp the Bayelsa volunteer security outfit”. 

The other candidates equally took turns to share their plans if given the mandate of the electorate on Nov.11.

The four candidates expressed dissatisfaction over the poor level of development in the state, noting that a new set of leadership was due for the state to move forward