By Cynthia Johnson
Udengs Eradiri, the Labour Party governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, has accused the incumbent governor, Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of inducing voters with money.
Eradiri made the allegation after casting his vote in Ward 10, Unit 5, Ekpetiama, Yenagoa on Saturday, November 11.
As gathered by Quest Times, he said it was unfortunate that the government was buying votes with state resources that should be used to improve the lives of the people of Bayelsa State.
“Some of us have decided that we will embrace the non-violent approach. But behind the scenes, state resources are everywhere, money is being exchanged for votes, ten, fifteen, twenty thousand, and so on,” Eradiri said.
“Money that would have been used in building good schools, standard hospitals and improving the lots of the people they are buying peoples votes.”
Eradiri also accused the ruling party of entrenching poverty in the state despite the huge resources coming into the state.
“The government in power, the ruling party in the state has entrenched poverty in a state that produced oil. Today Bayelsa is the second poorest state in the country,” he said.
“And they are inducing voters with money. That is not the way to go. The people deserve better and we must change what is going on in the interest of the state.”
Although he expressed delight that the election was going on smoothly in his area, saying Ekpetiama had remained a peaceful community, he also stated that he would never buy votes, even if he had the money.
“I will never use the money to induce voters because it is not my nature. We must do things differently to change our state and our society,” he said.
