Kpodoh sets development agenda for 2023 party’s presidential flagbearers . Expresses optimism for Northerners support for APC presidential candidate

 By Our Correspondent

Sequel to the myriad of problems inimical to the socio-economic, political, technological and cultural advancement of the nation, resulting to unbearable hardship to the people, a foremost politician in the core of the Niger Region, and a onetime Special Adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Security Matters, Chief Perekeme Richard Kpodoh,  has called on party’s presidential flagbearers, particularly those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whoever that will win the 2023 presidential election to accord the collapsing security, economy , the devalued naira, failing tertiary education as well as the ill- treated civil service a pride of place  in his administration when elected.

Chief Perekeme Richard Kpodoh

Chief Kpodoh who made the remarks while addressing Journalists on Thursday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, lamented over the level of under development of Bayelsa state by the federal government during the past administration when the people expected much but have seen nothing to address the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

The former Special Adviser who averred that Bayelsans are no longer prepared to trade with their votes without meaningful profits, however extolled the virtues of the APC presidential flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing optimism that he will make the difference to better the lot of the people when elected.

“The APC has more capable hands. Look at Bola Ahmed Tinubu that is Presidential flagbearer of that party, he laboured for the party and funded it, and therefore deserve being the Presidential flagbearer of the party," he stated.

 

Noting that the federal government’s previous administration has forgotten the state in terms of infrastructural development which he emphatically said without mincing words, was abysmally low.

" We are talking about major infrastructures. Look at the Bayelsa end of the East-West road, is it not shameful that Bayelsa that we were in power before but have nothing to show, couldn’t complete that road?

" Go and look at other states that produced people at the helm of affairs. Do they look like Bayelsa, Kpodoh fired?

Predicting outcome of the 2023 Presidential election, he said, "This is where the matter is. Atiku Abubakar is a politician with vast experience. He has been a governor and vice president though he had problem with his boss, then President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo who accused him of issues yet to be resolved.  

Atiku Abubakar

" In the other hand, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was also governor of Lagos State for eight years. He developed Lagos to almost the status of Dubai. He is also a politician with pool of knowledge who has made and built people across Nigeria.

" I see a money game in 2023 where Nigerians like the proverbial Piper, may be forced to aligning with the highest payer".

Chief Koodoh disagreed with predictions that northern governors in the APC may dump Tinubu in general election to support the northern Atiku Abubakar.

' It's possible politically but I disagree with those predicting that northern governors will betray Tinubu to vote for Atiku.

" Most of the governors that worked and voted for Tinubu are from the north. Remember that it was this same Tinubu while he was leader of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that proposed the amalgamation of that party and Muhammadu Buhari's CPC that finally produced the later as President in 2015. So I don't as an individual see the north under the watch of President Buhari betraying Tinubu”, he said.

Speaking on the security situation in Bayelsa, Chief Koodoh charged those in authority to redouble efforts and curb the menace that has claimed lives of several innocent souls.

According to him, a larger part of the forest in the state and the rivers are occupied by foreign farmers, fishermen and herdsmen who unsuspectedly attack native farmers and fishermen without provocation.

He cited the recent killing of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Sunday Oputu in his house along Bay-bridge area in the state capital and Mr Michael Isaiah at Ogbia town during the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Ogbia Constituency 1 State House of Assembly Primaries, but lamented that security agencies have not unveiled the perpetrators of that act.

"We were the people who left the PDP to form the New PDP that later metamorphosed alongside ACN and the CPC to the APC in the state.

" I was the Chairman of the New PDP in the state, and I was seriously hunted alongside my secretary, Mr. Godsidi by these same people who are today shamelessly seeking to join the APC through the backdoor.

" And because the state was not safe for us, we fled to other states for safety.

" They even threatened to bring down my hotel at the Tombia axis, claiming that Government wants to construct a flyover in the area, a claim that was a mirage in its entirety", Kpodoh said.