Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has attributed the lack of development in the Niger Delta region to the pervasive poverty experienced in the area. Obi expressed that successive governments' failures and corruption have led to the stagnation and impoverishment of the South-South region, even 67 years after oil was discovered in the area.

He made these remarks during the official presentation of the Labour Party's flag to their Bayelsa State gubernatorial candidate, Udengs Eradiri, in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday.

Obi pointed out that Bayelsa, being the place where oil was first discovered, is still struggling with underdevelopment and high levels of poverty. He emphasized that given its abundant natural resources, Bayelsa should not be counted among the poor states in the country.

He stated, "In a state where oil was first discovered, and after 67 years, you still can't drive on good roads. After Sokoto, known as the poorest state with a 90.5 per cent poverty rate, Bayelsa is at 88.5 per cent. Bayelsa is not supposed to be on the list of poor states, considering what God endowed them with. It is the product of bad leadership, and that is what we are trying to change."

Obi called for a new Bayelsa where leaders prioritize service to the people and transparent management of public funds. He stressed that this approach is crucial to lifting people out of poverty and emphasized the need to shift from a consumption-oriented economy to one focused on production and supporting small businesses.

Additionally, Obi encouraged Bayelsa residents to critically assess the claims made by candidates from various political parties during the upcoming governorship election campaign, emphasizing the importance of verifying promises made by politicians.