There is perpetual scheme by PDP to keep the people in abject poverty for political reasons- Ariyor

By Francis Sadhere

Delta State House of Assembly aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Party (APC), Barrister Robinsons Ariyor has said that the is a perpetual scheme by the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to keep the people in abject poverty for political reasons.

Barrister Ariyor who is contesting for the Warri South Constituency 1 into the Delta State House of Assembly said this in Warri today at a programme tagged ‘Searchlight on State of the State’, organized by the Warri Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri, Delta State.

Barr. Ariyor lampooned PDP for keeping the people in abject poverty for the past 16 years, saying that PDP has failed to reduce poverty in the country while the ruling class basked in euphoria of wealth.

He said the reason why PDP has refused to empower the people was because of political reasons, pointing out that it was their scheme to keep the people in abject poverty so that they can continue to use them during election periods.

Barr. Ariyor who is also a development practitioner emphasized that democracy will continue to be an illusion if nothing is done by the ruling class to reduce poverty in the country.

He said; “Democracy will continue to be an illusion if we do not reduce poverty, and because there is so much hunger in the country, the people are only concerned about what they can get now. PDP has perfected this scheme because they know that during elections once they give the people money they will vote for them. This situation is caused by the people in power so that they can use it to win elections.”

He lamented that over the years Nigeria have had very bad leadership because the people have refused to fight for their rights and demand for change, adding that Nigerians have the power to kick out bad governments.

“The people are living in terrible condition because of our leaders. There is no avenue for consultation between the governors and the governed. Democracy is supposed to be the government of the people, by the people and for the people. But what we have over the years is government of the few, by the few and for the few. Government is supposed to be a servant of the people. But what we have today is the other way round. But in all these we have the power to change things,” Barr. Ariyor noted.

He called on Nigerians and the elite class to come out of their shells and speak out and challenge the people in power, stressing that it was high time people began to challenge the actions and inactions of the ruling party.

While saying that the psyche of majority of Nigerians have been brutalized by the ruling party, Barr. Ariyor said that proper reorientation of Nigerians was necessary to change the mindset of the people.

According to Barr. Ariyor, there was need for those in the helm of affairs to consult with the people before developmental projects are carried out on behalf of the people.