The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State, Mr Udengs Eradiri, has said that former governors of the state are among the stakeholders he has consulted over his ambition to govern the state ahead of the November 11 election.
Eradiri, who stated this during a live phone-in programme on the People’s FM93.1 radio station in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Wednesday, said that he would request second-term seeking Governor Douye Diri of the PDP to work for him (Eradiri) if he met the governor.
Former governors of Bayelsa are the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; former President Goodluck Jonathan; Timipre Sylva, who is also seeking a second tenure on the platform of the APC; and Seriake Dickson, who handed over the baton of leadership to Diri.
The 47-year-old LP flagbearer, while responding to questions by some callers, said he belonged to a generation that was occupying leadership positions and making decisions in governance and other aspects of life across the globe.
He vowed that he would not allow those in older generations who had lived their prime to still lead the state and determine the way things were done in modern times.
Eradiri said, “It will interest you to know that I have gone to all the former governors. It’s only this governor (Douye Diri) that I have not seen. The day I will see him, I give him his drinks and tell him to work for me because it’s my turn.
“It’s my generation that is in leadership (positions) all over the world. How can people use their time and (also) use my time? No. If I disagree with that, then I will not argue with them. I was in the APC, I couldn’t argue with the principal (Sylva) but we are on the ballot today. I know several people who say, ‘no, it’s oga o, I’m loyal’.
“I don’t do loyalty, I do respect. Loyalty is transactional and respect is earned. And for me, I think that my generation can’t be allowed to pass without taking leadership and do things the way they should be done. This time, in the whole world, things are done differently. You don’t expect somebody born the 50’s to come and understand and assimilate the way things are done today. Therefore, instead of complaining that there is no road, no schools, etc, I will take the leadership.”
He insisted that Bayelsa had reached a stage in its developmental process that required a competent, capable and courageous person like him to provide sound leadership for real progress of the state.
Speaking on his plans for the moribund Bayelsa State Palm Ltd and other state-owned companies in comatose, Eradiri said that he would revamp them to generate employment and stimulate the state’s economy.
“I have my agenda, my bond with Bayelsans which I have prepared carefully. I have talked about reviving moribund industries in Bayelsa, there are over 11 of them that I have mentioned, including the Bayelsa Palm Ltd.
“The Bayelsa Palm is a cash-cow and a low-hanging fruit. Those are the ones that you will not spend too much before they start to produce the kinds of jobs that you want and the economy they will stimulate. We have plans to deal with it. We have itemised it”, he added.
