The Niger Delta region has not developed because of the level of poverty there, according to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate for 2023.
67 years after oil was discovered in the region, Obi claimed that the South-South has stagnated and become destitute due to the failure and corruption of previous governments.
In Yenagoa, the state capital, he made this statement on Tuesday during the official presentation of the Labour Party flag to the party’s candidate for governor of Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri.
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Considering its natural resources, Bayelsa, the state that saw the discovery of oil, is not supposed to be on the list of poor states, according to Obi, who added that the state still suffers from underdevelopment and reeks of poverty.
He said, “In a state where oil was first discovered, and after 67 years, you still can’t drive on good roads. After Sokoto, known as the poorest state with a 90.5 per cent poverty rate, Bayelsa is at 88.5 per cent. Bayelsa is not supposed to be on the list of poor states, considering what God endowed them with. It is the product of bad leadership, and that is what we are trying to change.”
“We want a new Bayelsa where those who come to serve know it’s service to the people. And also use the people’s money for public good. That is the only way to pull the people out of poverty. We can’t achieve that with people stealing and mismanaging funds.
“The future belongs to the youths, and you must support someone who believes in you. We need to move from consumption to production. It is through production that jobs will be provided. Small businesses will be supported, which is the future of the world and Bayelsa.”
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In addition, Obi urged the people of Bayelsa State to investigate any claims made by the candidates for governor on November 11 by the various political parties.
He said: “Carry our message everywhere; we want people who will create wealth and not those who will keep sharing and sharing everything.
“Go and verify what our candidate has said. One of the things we lack in our country today as a people is that we choose not to verify the things we were told during campaigns. That is what we need to do, and by doing that, we will know what the future holds.”
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