The Bayelsa State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief David Lyon, on Thursday told the state Traditional Rulers Council that if elected on November 16, his government would first tackle the absence of basic amenities in the state.
Lyon, who led leaders of the APC to the headquarters of the council of traditional rulers chaired by the King of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, said he was disturbed that Bayelsa lacked potable water, security and electricity.
The candidate, who said he came to introduce himself to the traditional institution to seek royal blessings, noted that it stood logic in the head that despite the wealth in Bayelsa, the people were still suffering abject deprivation and poverty.
Speaking to over 17 traditional rulers of various kingdoms, who received him in Yenagoa, Lyon insisted that if adequate security was provided in the state, investors would flood Bayelsa and establish industries, factories to generate employment for the people.
The candidate, who said Bayelsa was blessed with agricultural potential, huge gas and crude oil deposits, insisted that the people had no business with poverty and lamented that no place in the state had potable water.
He said the APC had a programme of drafting traditional rulers into a project of tackling insecurity because the monarchs hailed from different communities with the capacity to call troublemakers to order.
Lyon said it was unacceptable that Bayelsa with huge gas reserves still lacked electricity with its capital thrown into darkness adding that when elected governor, he would explore all avenues to give the state regular electricity.
The candidate further told the traditional rulers the importance of aligning the state to the ruling APC at the centre to attract enough federal presence and mega projects.
He promised to give traditional rulers their pride of place in the country by providing them with infrastructures, welfare and conducive environment to discharge their functions.
Addressing the traditional rulers, he said: “I am blessed today to be in the presence of our revered traditional rulers. I am here to tell my kings that I am the candidate of the APC for the forthcoming governorship election.
“You are the fathers of Bayelsa and you are aware that insecurity is bothering the people of Bayelsa. The APC government will not handle insecurity without the traditional rulers. While we are emphasizing on security is that insecurity drives away investors.
“When I am elected as the governor I will hold proper consultations with traditional rulers and assign them roles to tackle insecurity. Once we tackle insecurity, many investors are ready to come into Bayelsa because our state is blessed with abundant resources. We are one of the richest states in the federation.
“But look at where we are as a state. We don’t have electricity. We have all the resources, but there is no electricity. When there is no electricity, how can investors come? Investors can’t come into darkness and insecurity.
“Our team already has a blueprint to tackle insecurity and in that blueprint, traditional rulers will play important roles. Again, after the air we breathe, water is the next important thing. But there is no potable water in Bayelsa despite all our money”.
Lyon was accompanied to the council by the Alternate Director-General, APC Campaign Council, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe; two former acting governors, Peremabowei Ebebi, Werinipre Seibarugu; former Chief of Staff to Governor Seriake Dickson, Dikivie Ikiogha; Santorum and other party leaders.
Receiving Lyon and his entourage, King Diette-Spiff, on behalf of other traditional rulers gave his royal blessings to the candidate and called for a peaceful election.
He called on Lyon to prevail on his supporters to maintain peaceful disposition throughout the election adding that the candidate while speaking struck the cord on quite a few areas.
“We hold you to your promises when the time comes. We as royal fathers will like to give you our blessings and wish you a successful outing, a peaceful campaign and keeping of the peace after the election. I can see you have some heavyweights on your team. As traditional rulers, we are neutral but we will be watching with keen interest to see we have a beautiful election”, he said.
