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Against the backdrop of lack of infrastructure, “poverty, environmental degradation and myriads of problems militating against oil producing communities in Bayelsa State, despite their economic importance,” a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6 election said he is disposed to establish a commission to address their plight.
Rt Hon Fred Agbedi stated this when he took part in the Federated Correspondents Chapel’s media forum for Bayelsa State governorship aspirants in Yenagoa.
According to him, his administration will create the Bayelsa State oil communities producing commission, as it is done in Delta, Imo and Ondo states, which will deploy the 13% derivation to address the infrastructure deficit in these neglected and underdeveloped communities, noting that various organizations had been agitating for this for the past twenty years since the creation of Bayelsa State, but anybody calling for its creation has been dubbed enemy of government.
Successive state governments have been feeding fat on the 13% derivation to the neglect and abandonment of these oil producing communities that have been ravaged by oil spills, either caused by sabotage or equipment failures, thereby leaving the people to health hazards and environmental degradation.
He said inhabitants of these communities deserve good hospitals, roads, pipe borne water, and other modern facilities that improve their lives.
Rt Hon Agbedi also disclosed that his government will embark on tourism development and promotion.
In particular, he intends to dredge and pile the Epie Creek, making it navigable for tourists to enjoy the aquatic splendor which nature avails the state.
He also promised to develop the hinterland by constructing roads and sea ports to reap from untapped economic resources of such areas, especially Brass and Agge seaports, which will attract his development focus.
Earlier the chairman of the Correspondent Chapel, Comrade Julius Osahon, said the media forum for governorship aspirants is an initiative that invites aspirants to enunciate and enumerate their mission and vision for the state when they become governor.
He said all aspirants of the PDP and APC had been sent invitations, noting that Hon Fred Agbedi kick started the programme, as he enjoined other aspirants to take advantage of the forum to afford them the rare opportunity to sell their manifestoes.