Bayelsa PDP Accuses Diri Govt Of Poor Infrastructure, Abandoned Social Services
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has criticised the administration of Governor Douye Diri over what it described as poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, housing shortages, unreliable public utilities and declining support for education.
The party also called on the state government to disclose its expenditure and provide details of funds received for healthcare and other public projects, insisting that residents deserved greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
In a wide-ranging assessment of the state’s development on Wednesday in Yenagoa, George Turnah, Bayelsa State Chairman of PDP, accused the administration of failing to adequately address the basic needs of residents despite Bayelsa’s oil and gas resources.
On healthcare, he alleged that several rural health facilities lacked doctors, nurses and other essential services, leaving residents without adequate access to medical care.
The Turnah also questioned the state government’s handling of healthcare funding and demanded the publication of relevant grant records under the state’s transparency framework.
The administration was further criticised over the alleged absence of adequate public transportation, the high cost of accommodation and the limited availability of affordable housing for low-income earners and young families.
According to the party chairman, the rising cost of rent had placed additional pressure on residents in a state where many households depend on government employment and related economic activities.
The PDP representative also expressed concern over access to clean water and electricity, alleging that many communities continued to experience inadequate public utilities decades after the creation of Bayelsa State.
He also questioned the effectiveness of existing water infrastructure and the distribution of electricity, arguing that communities should benefit more directly from public investments and the state’s natural resources.
On road infrastructure, PDP, raised concerns about the cost of projects and the use of public funds, while questioning whether the administration’s spending priorities adequately reflected the needs of ordinary residents.
Education was another major area of criticism where PDP touched, alleging that students were struggling to pay school expenses, tertiary institutions were inadequately funded and some primary and secondary school buildings were in poor condition.
The party also claimed that scholarship and bursary programmes had suffered setbacks, calling for improved funding and the restoration of support schemes for students.
The party further criticised the alleged lack of access to credit, farm roads and markets for farmers, warning that the challenges were undermining agricultural production and the state’s efforts to achieve food security.
The speaker argued that farmers needed practical government support to expand production, transport their produce and earn sustainable incomes.
The PDP representative also raised concerns about properties and financial interests associated with the state government abroad, alleging that disputes and legal proceedings involving overseas assets required greater public scrutiny.
The speaker maintained that Bayelsa residents should not bear the consequences of poor policy choices and called for greater accountability in the management of public funds and the delivery of essential services.
