Mr Udengs Eradiri, Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate for the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa, on Sunday called on the electorate to rise against the old order to save the state.

Eradiri said with courage, determination, dedication and desire to protect their future, Bayelsans, especially the youth,  could turn around the fortunes of the state by voting for a new order.

The LP candidate spoke at a town hall meeting in Odioma, the home of his running mate, Retired Commodore Benjamin Nathus, in Brass Local Government Area.

Eradiri said that the old order had failed to progressively drive the economic comparative advantages of the state to develop Bayelsa.

He said that the coastal communities and ocean cities like Odioma held the key to unlock the resource potentials capable of birthing a new Bayelsa.

He said’ “This is the richest place in Bayelsa. I am not here to play politics. Odioma has a free trade zone status.

“Every developed nation of the world ensures that they idolize their ocean cities. We are the only people that are joking with our ocean wealth. Odioma is the blue economy.”

Speaking on his “People, Education, Agriculture and Power (PEAP) agenda”, the LP candidate said it was carefully crafted to address all the developmetal challenges of the state.

He said: “We have carefully looked at the issues that are affecting our state. There are no functional state hospitals in Bayelsa.

“It is mothers that send their children to schools that don’t have teachers, the security situation is bad and there is no drinking water in Yenagoa.”

He said if elected, his administration would revive Bayelsa economy with agriculture, adding that Bayelsa must attain self-sufficiency in food production.

According to him: “There is sugarcane in this place, starting from Nembe. Sugarcane is growing untamed in Bayelsa. We will produce sugar in Bayelsa. Dry Gin is also produced from sugarcane.

“If I take leadership in this state, everything we will eat, we will produce –  pepper, onion, crayfish, eggs, vegetables, we will produce in Bayelsa. If you plant pepper, you can earn a living from pepper.”

He called on the electorate to come out and vote massively for LP and expect bountiful result.

“We are not telling you to come and vote and go home. It is time to change it, give us your support. I am ready for this job, I have the experience,” he said. (NAN)