Rivers LG polls: Peace, panacea to development — Chairmanship candidate
Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
Ahead of the April 17 local council election in Rivers State,the PDP chairmanship candidate for Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State,Barr Erastus Awortu, has identified peace as panacea to development in any given society. He stated this while soliciting support from his constituents in Andoni.
Awortu who is also Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike on Niger Delta Developnent Commission (NDDC) Matters, lamented the negative impact of insecurity on the livelihood of rural communities in the Area.
The PDP chairmanship candidate said that his ambition to lead the council was borne out of a strong desire to reposition Andoni on the part of development.
He pleaded with youths in the area to support his agenda, while advising them to shun cultism, piracy and other vices that are inimical to peace and development.
While delivering his manifesto during a political rally in Ward 9 ,which comprises two major communities (Asarama and Uyeada), Awortu said that his administration will focus on employment generation.
“We will create enabling environment for small and medium scale businesses, but this can only be achieved where there is peace.
“No matter how robust government policies tend to look, they can only thrive where there’s peace.
“I’ve seen lots of vibrant youths in our communities who do not have any means of livelihood, a lot of them actually wish to be meaningfully engaged, but there are no jobs.
“Through the instrumentality of the local government council, my administration will also invest in human capital development, especially in the area of skills aquisition.
“The result of this development strategy will empower our youths and reduce poverty in our communities,” he said.
Awortu also lamented infrastructural decay in the Area, while assuring his readiness to address the menace.
“Andoni is a very peculiar area, communities have remained separated by creeks making it difficult for traders, fishermen and artisans to access the markets.
“When we eventually come on board through your support, we shall embark on massive dualization of our internal roads and culverts to link communities.
“I believe that when this is achieved, livelihoods of residents will be positively impacted,” he posited.
