The Bayelsa State Government has accused the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state òf an sinister plot to prevent President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the Bayelsa International Cargo/ Passenger Airport.
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said in a statement on Monday that the remnants of APC are clinging onto a pernicious plot to demonize the Airport for unimaginable, pathetic political considerations.
The Governor’s Aide said that members of the APC who have become suddenly obsessed with malicious allegations and non existent controversy over the crucial airport project are working to prevent its inauguration with the sinister intent to make it an abandoned airport for campaign purposes.
According to Soriwei, nothing could be more pathetic and evil that this subversion of the general interest of Bayelsa and indeed the Ijaw nation by a group of malevolent individuals motivated by greed and selfishness.
Soriwei said that it was rather curious that the APC members would demonize a star project of immense value to the state, the Ijaw nation, the South South and indeed the country.
He described APC members who are attacking the historical airport projects as enemies of the general good and should be discountenanced by all men of good conscience.
He insisted that the airport was the critical answer to years of prayers and lamentations of the Bayelsans many of whom died along the East West Road after flying within and outside the country to the Airports in Port Harcourt and Benin.
The Governor’s Aide argued that those who described the airport as unviable were small minds devoid of vision who the capacity to interact with tomorrow and could not have seen the huge economic benefit of the project.
He pointed out that a quick check on most flights into the Port Harcourt Airport would reveal the vast number of Bayelsa residents in Yenagoa who spend their resources to add so much value to the airport and the economy òf its host state.
Soriwei stressed that it was beyond contestation that the Airport project was designed to further open up the developmental space and provide enhanced environment for economic activities and prosperity in Bayelsa.
He urged President Buhari and his handlers to be wary of the unpatriotic and destructive intent of a few disgruntled characters masquerading as critics of government.
He said even this sinister plot hidden in the garb of a newfound patriotism would fail.
He said, “It has come to the attention of the Bayelsa State Government that the opposition APC who are enraged by their recent political misfortune are planning to prevent President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the Bayelsa Airport for campaign purposes.
“The essence of venturing into politics cannot be the selfish promotion of the inordinate and parochial interest of a selfish few to destroy the general good by a few disgruntled political characters masquerading as critics of government.
“It is sad that the APC In Bayelsa have thrown caution to the wind my portraying themselves as enemies of the Bayelsa people and indeed the Ijaw nation.
“The Bayelsa Airport represents the answered prayers to years of lamentation òf Bayelsa people and nearby communities in Delta and indeed the entire Ijaw nation who have been subjected to the discomfort of making costly additional journeys after their flights.
“The Airport is strategically located to further open up the developmental space of Bayelsa, and prove enhanced environment for prosperous economic activities.
“An awareness of the pressing need for an airport in Bayelsa made the previous APC Administration under Chief Timipre Sylva to attempt an airport project at Okordia/Zarama axis of the state which, unfortunately, was abandoned after the ‘construction of a multi billion footpath to the project site.
“It is therefore absurd that the same man who conceived the idea of an airport project would lead a band of baleful politicians to demonize the completed airport project in Bayelsa.
The question to ask is ‘Would the airport have been seen by Sylva’s supporters to be viable if it was executed by him? Is the airport now unviable economically because it was built by Governor Dickson?.
“The fact is that the Restoration Government led by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has made history. Governor Dickson has dared where APC and its leader saw the insurmountable on the alter of the shrine of fear, lack of vision and self defeat.
“It is high time the members APC grew up and release themselves from the talons òf pitiable primitivism to realize that the airport is not a PDP Airport. It was conceived and painstakingly executed to serve our people, the Niger Delta and other Nigerians.
“The obsession to demonize everything with the intent to harm the public good cannot do even the APC any good.
“This plot has failed.”