The Bayelsa governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief David Lyon, has lamented that the state was in dire need of basic amenities despite being a leading oil-producing state.
Speaking on Thursday when he received a delegation of British High Commission, Lyon promised to address lack of development in the state if elected and alleged that the people were suffering because the current leadership in the state lacked the passion for service.
Lyon particularly expressed disappointment over the darkness in the state caused by lack of electricity, lack of industries to employ jobless youths and inability of small business owners to sustain their enterprise.
Commending the delegation for the visit, the candidate described his emergence as a divine arrangement and reiterated his desire to serve the people.
“We plan to address the cries of the people and the pensioners, who have been neglected over the years. These are needless liabilities the present government is leaving behind.
“It is unacceptable the conditions of workers in active service and those retired. The current situation is not befitting of an oil-producing state with massive allocations and derivations like Bayelsa. We will ensure a total change”, he said.
Lyon, who gave insights into his humble background, said he understood and felt the pains of the ordinary people, promising to bring government closer to them.
“I know that the expectations of Bayelsans are very high, but the journey to progress begins immediately I am elected into office,” he said.
Leader of the delegation and Second Secretary, Political, Niger Delta and South-East, Mr. Singh Sarabjit, congratulated Lyon on his emergence as the APC candidate.
He said the British High Commission was prepared to collaborate with other agencies to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election on November 16.
Singh said the visit was a means to lay a foundation for a relationship between the commission and Bayelsa State.
He said the commission was interested in the conduct of the poll and urged the two main parties to maintain the peace.