The Bayelsa State Government has assured that modalities are being worked out to include traders and other critical stakeholders of the business community in the State as beneficiaries of fuel subsidy palliatives.
Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the assurance when a group known as Bayelsa State Non-indigenes Market Leaders visited Government House, Yenagoa, to declare their support for the re-election bid of Governor Douye Diri.
The Tide learnt that the group is a coalition of leaders of various business unions, including the Unified Traders Union, Igbo Traders Association in Swali, Kpansia Traders Association, and Butchers Association.
Addressing the group, Senator Ewhrudjakpo said the state government was deeply concerned about the suffering of the people occasioned by the impetuous removal of fuel subsidy by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
To this end, he informed that the government had already lined up various economic packages for people of the state, including workers and traders to alleviate their hardship.
Expressing excitement over the visit, the Deputy Governor thanked the various business unions for coming together to identify with the Prosperity Administration and acknowledging its achievements in the last three years.
Describing the group as very credible and formidable, Senator Ewhrudjakpo noted that their endorsement of the candidature of Governor Diri would contribute greatly to the overwhelming victory of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 11 Governorship election.
He said government would continue to prioritize security of lives and property to sustain the prevailing congenial environment for businesses to thrive in line with the prosperity agenda of the present administration.
Responding to some concerns raised by the business unions, such as multiple taxes, high toll on trucks bringing goods into Bayelsa, and the unwholesome activities of touts who parade themselves as government officials to defraud traders, Senator Ewhrudjakpo promised that government would look into all the issues.
He also assured that government would support the Swali Market Traders Association to conduct a peaceful election in the shortest possible time.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Non-Indigene Business Community, Mr. Anthony Olikagu, lauded the Governor Douye Diri-led Administration for its achievements, describing their relationship with the current government as smooth and unparalleled.
Olikagu, who applauded the administration for the peace currently enjoyed in the state, thanked Governor Diri for the several appointments given to non-indigenes and assured him and the PDP of bloc votes in the forthcoming election.
In their separate remarks, Sir Pius Akabueze, Comrade Jude Osigwe and Mrs Nkechi Dikibo representing Unified Traders’ Union, the Igbo Traders Swali and Kpansia Traders Association, equally declared unwavering support for the Governor’s re-election.
They, however, called for their groups to be carried along in the campaigns and sharing of palliatives, representation of market women in government, and checking of multiple taxation which contributes to high prices of goods and services in the state.
In a related development, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, weekend, assured defectors from the opposition APC from Wards 3 and 4 in Ofoni Community, and Ward 6 all in Sagbama Local Government Area, of their full reintegration to the PDP.
In their remarks, the Leader of the defectors from Ofoni, Mr Majane David, and his Ward 6 counterparts, Hon Asei Oweipade of Ossiama, Mr Solomon Otuku representing Ogbonugbene, Mr Stanley Moses (Aweigbene), and Mr Desmond of Egbepulu-ama, all regretted joining the APC and pledged to work for the continuity of the Prosperity Government.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa