Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has attributed the lack of development in the Niger Delta region to pervasive poverty.
Obi emphasized that successive governments’ failures and corruption have led to stagnation and impoverishment in the South-South region, even 67 years after the discovery of oil in the area.
Speaking on Tuesday during the official presentation of the Labour Party flag to the party’s Bayelsa State gubernatorial candidate, Udengs Eradiri, in Yenagoa, the state capital, Obi expressed concern about Bayelsa’s underdevelopment, despite being the state where oil was first discovered. He highlighted the absence of good roads and the state’s high poverty rate, which stands at 88.5 percent, second only to Sokoto.
Obi stated, “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.”
He stressed the need for a new Bayelsa where leaders prioritize serving the people and utilize public funds for the common good, ultimately lifting people out of poverty. Obi also advocated for a shift from consumption to production, which would create jobs and support small businesses, thus securing the future.
Addressing the residents of Bayelsa State, Obi urged them to critically evaluate the promises made by candidates from various political parties during the upcoming governorship election campaign. He emphasized the importance of verifying campaign pledges and holding candidates accountable for their commitments to drive positive change.
