Bayelsa Off-season Election: LP Guber Candidate Promises to Revive Moribund Industries
The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the November 11 guber election in Bayelsa State, Mr Udengs Eradiri, has promised to revive moribund government-owned enterprises, if given the mandate by the people.
He stated this on Thursday when he spoke with members of the Federated Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Yenagoa, the State capital.
Eradiri, accompanied by the LP deputy governorship candidate, retired Commodore Benjamin Nathus, said that about 11 government-owned companies were moribund in the State.
He said that as a young entrepreneur with some 45 employees, he plans to use his experience to revive the companies and further create jobs and boost government revenue.
The LP candidate said that he was compelled to join the governorship race to reverse the neglect of the people.
Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and Environment in the State, said it was sad that the State was lagging behind in developmental index in spite of its huge monthly revenue from the federation account.
“My beloved State of Bayelsa is in dire need of selfless leadership, and having examined by trajectory as a student activist, taxpayer, youth leader, commissioner and public servant, I decided to offer myself instead of complaining.
“My record of service at the Ministries of Youth and Environment shows that things can work when the leadership is committed.
“I had no funding as a commissioner, but before I left, the ministry started generating N200 million monthly; that is my scorecard there.
“As a young man, I have the strength and capacity to do the job of governance of the State better, and I will dismantle the obstacles to the development of the State.
“I am driven by the passion to transform the State and make life more meaningful for the people whose level of poverty is alarming and glaring due to the neglect of governance by the political class.
“I have garnered adequate experience and developed myself enough to govern and improve the living conditions of the people by efficiently deploying public funds that accrue to the State.
“We are the only party that recognizes the age-long political tradition of ‘fresh water and salt water’ combination for balance.
“I am from Yenagoa local government area (fresh water area), and my deputy hails from Brass local government area (salt water area); and we are hopeful of earning the support of the people on this project,” Eradiri said.
He also promised to provide social amenities, including healthcare and education, boost human capacity development and prioritize infrastructure and job opportunities.
“The agricultural potential of the State in fisheries, rice, sugarcane and other crops where we have comparative advantages would be harnessed to provide raw materials for industries and processed for export,” he added.
NAN
