![[VIDEO] We're going to build new towns, tackle flooding in Bayelsa - Eradiri, LP guber candidate](https://gbaramatuvoicenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/images-13.jpeg)
Former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate and ex-Bayelsa Commissioner for Youth Development, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has condemned the current leadership in Bayelsa State, attributing its stagnant development to poor governance, lack of accountability, and unfulfilled promises. Eradiri alleges that the current leadership has woefully failed to deliver on key promises, particularly in agriculture, food security, and economic development, areas he claims have been severely neglected.
In an interview with Punch, Eradiri pointed out how the government’s unfulfilled promises in agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure have left the state grappling with inefficiency and underdevelopment. “Bayelsa can be better than this if we have a leadership that is serious about taking the right actions,” he remarked. “They don’t and can’t meet the yearnings of our people,” he added, citing the administration’s lack of direction and leadership competence.
Failures in Agriculture and Food Security
Eradiri was particularly critical of the government’s efforts in agriculture, which he described as a disaster. “Where are the budgets of the last four years?” he asked, referring to unfulfilled promises in agricultural development. “The cassava processing facility should have been up and running by now, but it’s not functional. The Bayelsa Palm has been mortgaged to a few elders who are just pocketing the money instead of using it to benefit the state.”
He also condemned the neglect of state assets like the Igbogene fish farm and the poultry farm at Ebedebiri, both of which he described as being in a state of abandonment. “Grass is now growing there,” he added, underscoring the government’s lack of follow-through on agricultural initiatives.
Infrastructural Neglect and Transportation Crisis
Touching on infrastructure, Eradiri expressed frustration over the state’s transportation system. “Where are the taxis they promised to help mitigate the removal of fuel subsidies? The Igbogene transport facility is overtaken by weeds,” he lamented.
Eradiri also pointed out that major infrastructural projects like the Ekeremor Road remain incomplete. “They stopped the road at Ekeremor. The road is supposed to lead to Agge, where the blue economy project should start, but it’s yet to reach its destination,” he said.
Lack of Vision for Economic Growth
Eradiri did not hold back in criticizing the government’s failure to attract investment, blaming poor infrastructure and a lack of preparation. “You can’t do a Public-Private Partnership without the enabling environment. Investors aren’t going to come to Bayelsa when there’s no road to Agge, where we dream of having a deep seaport,” he explained.
He noted that while the state’s rich resources, including raffia palms, could help boost the local economy, none of this potential is being tapped. “The agriculture in areas like Aghoro and Egbema-Angalabiri could expand because the land doesn’t get too flooded, but the leadership is not focused.”
“Bayelsa Is Not Ready”
When asked if he saw any hope for the state under the current administration, Eradiri bluntly responded, “Bayelsa is not prepared.” He criticized the governor’s decision to buy airplanes, comparing it unfavorably to how Akwa Ibom’s Ibom Air was established. “They didn’t start with buying planes. They built hangars, terminals, and roads to support the airline’s operations,” he said, implying that Bayelsa is nowhere near ready to handle such an initiative.
“Can’t you see that local content has left Bayelsa? The building is just here, but all major activities are outside Bayelsa because people can’t come here. They’ve just set up liaison offices in Lagos and Abuja. So, Lagos customers will go to their office in Lagos when in the real sense they should come to Yenagoa. Now, local content is trying to build a hotel because they know the hotel will serve the oil companies that will come here. The government has not seen that the institution is on the verge of pulling out, especially with an unfriendly Federal Government. They’ll use these excuses to pull the institution out. We should be building estates around that area to support the workers. Over a thousand workers are supposed to be in that place.
Eradiri concluded by stating that the state’s inability to maintain essential services and attract investors is rooted in poor governance and a lack of strategic vision. “Until we have real leadership that understands the issues and is willing to act on them, Bayelsa will continue to lag behind,” he warned.
Support Quality Journalism in the Niger Delta Region
Join us in our mission to bring development journalism, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness to the forefront. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. Donate today and be a part of the change!
