Udengs Eradiri, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Bayelsa, has expressed his disapproval of Governor Douye Diri’s claim that N30 billion was spent on completing the 10.2km phase two of the Glory Drive dual carriageway. Eradiri questioned the exorbitant cost of the road project, which had already been mostly completed by former Governor Seriake Dickson. He highlighted that former Governor Timipre Sylva had completed the clearing component, while Dickson carried out the sand-filling aspect, leaving only the asphalt work for Diri.
Speaking at his residence in Yenagoa, Eradiri voiced concerns over the lack of transparency and accountability in the governor’s administration. He asserted that the implication of the N30 billion expenditure meant that each kilometer of the road cost N3 billion, which raised further questions about the governor’s motives and financial management.
Eradiri urged Governor Diri to provide a breakdown of the total cost of other projects initiated, implying that they were executed with the intention of garnering support for the upcoming election. He called for clarity and accountability, stating that the people of Bayelsa deserve to know if their resources are being misused.
Governor Diri had previously justified the high cost of the 10.2km road, citing contractual litigation as the reason. According to him, the initial contractor had taken the Bayelsa government to court for an alleged breach of contract. In order to settle the dispute, the government opted for an out-of-court settlement and awarded the project to the original contractor, who ultimately completed it.
