PDP QUESTIONS DIRI’S N100BN STADIUM PROJECT, CALLS FOR ECONOMIC PRIORITIES

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised Governor Douye Diri’s proposed N100 billion, 25,000-capacity stadium project, urging the administration to prioritise job creation, food security, and poverty alleviation instead.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Ikaebimo Mark, the opposition party said it was not against infrastructure development but insisted that government resources should be directed towards projects capable of creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and improving the standard of living of residents.

The PDP accused the Diri-led administration of responding to criticism with political attacks rather than addressing pressing issues such as hunger, unemployment, and poverty.

According to the party, Bayelsans deserve practical solutions to their economic challenges instead of political rhetoric.

The opposition argued that while infrastructure remains important, public investments should be carefully prioritised to deliver lasting economic benefits and improve the welfare of citizens.

It questioned the economic justification for spending over N100 billion on a stadium, calling on the government to explain the project’s long-term sustainability, expected economic returns, and the number of permanent jobs and business opportunities it is expected to generate.

The PDP also criticised the government’s handling of the Samson Siasia Stadium, noting that plans to upgrade the facility after more than six years in office amounted to an acknowledgment that the infrastructure had been neglected.

The party further expressed concern over the condition of public services in the state, alleging that residents continue to rely heavily on commercial tricycles for transportation while Yenagoa still lacks a functional public water supply system.

It argued that a state largely dependent on monthly federal allocations should focus on addressing critical socio-economic needs rather than embarking on what it described as an expensive stadium project aimed at hosting the National Sports Festival.

The PDP called on the Bayelsa State Government to implement a comprehensive economic recovery programme centred on wealth creation, food security, industrialisation, investment promotion, employment generation, and poverty reduction.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policies that improve the welfare of Bayelsa residents while continuing to hold the government accountable for its decisions and spending priorities.