By Ken Afor
Ahead of the November 11 election, the governorship candidate for Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stands no chance in returning to power.
Eradiri said the election is beyond any political party but will be a mass movement and a revolution against a bad, incompetent and clueless administration led by Governor Douye Diri of the PDP.
This comes following recent recruitment by the governor where he appointed some members from the LP.
But Eradiri who is unperturbed by the governor’s schemes said the LP has become a force to reckon with in the state.
He boasted that his candidacy as the party’s flag bearer is a nightmare to the incumbent governor.
He said, “What is coming on November 11 is beyond party. It is a mass movement and a revolution against a bad, incompetent and clueless government. I am happy that LP has become a force to reckon with ahead of this poll and that my participation in the election as the candidate of the party is giving Governor Douye Diri a nightmare.
“My involvement in the election has provided jobs for people, who ordinarily were not considered fit to work in the government of Douye Diri. In the last three years, the governor did not consider rolling out jobs for people and engaging more political appointees.
“But today, a few weeks to the election, Governor Douye Diri is hawking appointment letters as a strategy to boost his chances. Unknown to him, people of Bayelsa are wiser now. They understand his game. Besides, he is not doing them any favour because the money is not owned by the governor. It belongs to the people.
“So, if he invites you, go and take your money. If he gives you a job, accept it and enjoy it while it lasts. But the truth is that this great state deserves a better alternative and should be rescued from the incompetence of this administration.”
He said the appointment offered to some members from the LP which he described as vote-buying is a deceit and a campaign strategy that will not help the governor to achieve his aim.
According to him, the electorate in the state have become wiser than ever to fall for this gimmick.
He called on the electorate not to be deceived by the governor’s job and appointment scam.
His words: “Common sense will tell everybody that this is just a campaign strategy which will fail woefully like a pack of cards. Governor Diri has occupied the office for over three years but did not deem it fit to employ anybody. But suddenly he woke up from his slumber a few weeks to another election and started hawking appointments.
“Tell Governor Diri that Bayelsans are wiser now and cannot be deceived by his method of vote-buying ahead of the election. It is now clear that the process is already tainted by deception.
“It is only a bait to give the people false hope and subject them to making a decision against their will. The truth is that the process is designed to fail immediately after the election. We are calling on our people to be vigilant and not to be deceived by Governor Diri’s job and appointment scam.
“We make bold to tell the people of the state that everything this government is doing is borne out of desperation to retain power. Nothing is real.
“All are designed as a campaign movie series with incompetent actors. They are not sincere. I and LP stand as the only alternative for the liberation of Bayelsa and a vote for me is for a better and prosperous state.”