Bayelsa's poverty index, evidence of PDP, Diri's failure, says LP candidate

The ranking of Bayelsa as the second-poorest state after Sokoto State in the multidimensional poverty index has been described as alarming and disastrous by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Engr. Udengs Eradiri.

Eradiri, who spoke in Yenagoa at the weekend, said Bayelsa's poor rankings in all economic and developmental indices remained an eloquent testimony that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state governor, Douye Diri, had failed the state.

He said the PDP and Diri had nothing to campaign for, noting that he could not wrap his head around the stinking poverty in the state despite the small population of Bayelsa and huge revenue allocations from various sources.

The ranking of Bayelsa as the second-poorest state after Sokoto State in the multidimensional poverty index has been described as alarming and disastrous by the Labour Party governorship candidate, Engr. Udengs Eradiri.

Eradiri, who spoke in Yenagoa at the weekend, said Bayelsa's poor rankings in all economic and developmental indices remained an eloquent testimony that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state governor, Douye Diri, had failed the state.

He said the PDP and Diri had nothing to campaign for, noting that he could not wrap his head around the stinking poverty in the state despite the small population of Bayelsa and huge revenue allocations from various sources.

The LP candidate attributed the woes of Bayelsa to many years of cluelessness, incompetence, avarice, profligacy, and anti-people policies of the PDP, insisting that the current administration had no idea how to tackle the issues.

He said, "Why are Governor Douye Diri and the PDP still campaigning for a second term? Data technology company StatiSense recently unveiled the Multidimensional Poverty Index of 2022 report of the National Bureau of Statistics.

"That report exposed the number of people living in multidimensional poverty in the oil-rich Niger Delta states. That report is alarming and distressing and goes to show the failure of the PDP leadership in Bayelsa since 1999. It shows that the PDP leadership and the current government of Douye Diri diverted and squandered all our commonwealth.

"Bayelsa has the red flag in all developmental indices. It will shock you to know that 2.61 million people out of the 2.9 million are languishing in abject poverty. This is to say that 88 percent of our population is extremely poor, despite the abundance of resources and revenue coming into this state.

"While Sokoto, a desert, occupies the first position, Bayelsa, an oil-rich state, is coming in second. What other proof do we need to know that the PDP has remained the whirlwind that will not do this state and our people any good?

"What other evidence do we need as a people to know that this forthcoming election affords us the people an opportunity to kick out Diri and his party? They mean no good for our state and should be given a red card".

Eradiri also said that Bayelsa being ranked as the third state with the worst unemployment rate in the country was proof that Diri and his party had no business seeking reelection.

He called on the people to massively vote for the credible alternative offered by the LP, saying that with his People, Education, Agriculture, and Power (PEAP) agenda, he would give the state a solid, fresh beginning.

He said, "Why are Governor Douye Diri and the PDP still campaigning for a second term? Data technology company StatiSense recently unveiled the Multidimensional Poverty Index of 2022 report of the National Bureau of Statistics.

"That report exposed the number of people living in multidimensional poverty in the oil-rich Niger Delta states. That report is alarming and distressing and goes to show the failure of the PDP leadership in Bayelsa since 1999. It shows that the PDP leadership and the current government of Douye Diri diverted and squandered all our commonwealth.

"Bayelsa has the red flag in all developmental indices. It will shock you to know that 2.61 million people out of the 2.9 million are languishing in abject poverty. This is to say that 88 percent of our population is extremely poor, despite the abundance of resources and revenue coming into this state.

"While Sokoto, a desert, occupies the first position, Bayelsa, an oil-rich state, is coming in second. What other proof do we need to know that the PDP has remained the whirlwind that will not do this state and our people any good?

"What other evidence do we need as a people to know that this forthcoming election affords us the people an opportunity to kick out Diri and his party? They mean no good for our state and should be given a red card".

Eradiri also said that Bayelsa being ranked as the third state with the worst unemployment rate in the country was proof that Diri and his party had no business seeking reelection.

He called on the people to massively vote for the credible alternative offered by the LP, saying that with his People, Education, Agriculture, and Power (PEAP) agenda, he would give the state a solid, fresh beginning.