… Assured Prosperity Agenda a ruse, Bayelsans wiser now
… Bayelsa is Nigeria’s hunger and poverty Capital under Diri
… We will continue to hold Government accountable on behalf of the People
… No factions in PDP. We remain the Party the People of Bayelsa trust. Strong, Vibrant and poised to reclaim our mandate come February 14th 2028
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa State, has noted with concern the desperate attempt by the Douye Diri administration to divert public attention from the real issues confronting the people of the state through needless propaganda and manufactured controversies.
Our concern has never been who issued a statement or which newspaper carried it. Our concern is, and remains, the deteriorating living conditions of Bayelsans. Unfortunately, neither the rejoinder by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai nor the subsequent denials addressed the fundamental issues raised by the PDP regarding hunger, poverty, unemployment, wealth creation, and the absence of any deliberate economic blueprint to improve the lives of our people.
The Bayelsa State Government owes the people answers, not distractions.
After more than six years in office, Bayelsans deserve to know why poverty continues to deepen despite unprecedented financial inflows to the state. They deserve to know why thousands of young people remain unemployed, why businesses are collapsing, why investments have failed to materialise, and why the average family today struggles to put food on the table.
The much-celebrated Prosperity Agenda, which promised abundant opportunities and shared economic growth, has sadly become a ruse. The people are now wiser because they judge governments not by slogans or publicity but by the realities they experience every day. Sadly, those realities are characterised by hunger, unemployment, hopelessness, and declining purchasing power.
Equally disturbing is the apparent lack of policy depth demonstrated by the present administration. Bayelsa cannot be governed through public relations, ceremonial project commissioning, and media narratives alone. The state deserves experienced, innovative, and competent leadership supported by capable political appointees with the vision and capacity to formulate and implement people-centred policies.
The PDP wishes to make it abundantly clear that holding government accountable is not an act of hostility; it is a constitutional responsibility and a democratic obligation. As the foremost opposition party in Bayelsa State, we shall continue to speak for the ordinary trader, the struggling civil servant, the unemployed graduate, the neglected farmer, the artisan, and every Bayelsan whose voice deserves to be heard.
Until the acclaimed cordial working relationship between Governor Diri and President Tinubu puts food on the table and money in the pocket of Bayelsans, it remains an illusion. Rather than expend valuable public resources responding to criticism, the Diri administration should channel its energy towards tackling hunger, creating jobs, attracting investments, developing industries, improving workers’ welfare, and restoring hope to families across the state.
The PDP also considers it necessary to state that there are no factions within the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State. The attempt by government officials to describe the Party as “factional” is merely wishful thinking intended to create a false narrative. The PDP remains united, strong, vibrant, and the most formidable political platform in Bayelsa State. It is the party that continues to enjoy the confidence and trust of the overwhelming majority of Bayelsans.
A party that has produced five Governors of the State and recently fielded candidates for all elective public office in the 2027 general elections cannot be said to be declining politically as claimed by the amateur Commissioner who is herself a huge beneficiary of the PDP.
As we continue to strengthen our structures across the 105 wards and eight local government areas, the PDP remains firmly focused on its mission of reclaiming the mandate of the people and returning responsive, accountable, and people-oriented leadership to Creek Haven on February 14, 2028.
The suffering of Bayelsans is too serious to be politicised. The government must stop arguing and start governing.
Signed:
Hon. Ikaebimo Mark
State Publicity Secretary
Peoples Democratic Party, Bayelsa State
July 6, 2026
