BAYELSA AIRPORT: DEPUTY GOVERNOR EWHRUDJAKPO DEBUNKS REPORTS, DECLARES N56BN AS TOTAL COST.
....Commends PMB, COAS, FMC Yola for Successful Operation of Bayelsa Co-joined Twins
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has debunked reports making the rounds that the immediate past administration spent about N100 billion naira for the construction of the state Airport as malicious, mischievous and evil.
The deputy governor, however, said contrary to the unfounded reports being bandied about, only N56 billion was used in constructing the Airport which is adjudged as one of the best in the country.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo disclosed this at the Airport while receiving the Bayelsa-born conjoined twins who were flown back to the state over the weekend after a successful surgery at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.
He noted with displeasure that, apart from the erroneous figures, some opposition politicians went about lying and demarketing the state just to score cheap political goals in the build up to the 2019 governorship election, that the airport was flooded.
According to the Deputy Governor, the massive land reclamation and other painstaking efforts invested into the construction of the facility does not only make it flood-free but also boasts of high quality equipment.
His words, "Let me use this opportunity to correct some erroneous figures and reports that are being sponsored by politicians who never mean well for our state. I was the feeble hand God used as Commissioner for Work in the immediate past administration to work with Honourable Dickson to construct this Airport.
"What the then state government spent in constructing the Airport in this extremely challenging terrain was N56 billion and not the N70 to N120 billion that is being bandied about all over the place.
"Before the 2019 elections, one of them even went as far as saying that the Airport was covered by flood just to discredit the Dickson-led PDP Government for cheap political gains.
"This is almost the peak of the flood season, but you can all see that there is nothing like water anywhere near our airport that has been adjudged as one of the best in this country.
"It was just a gimmick and they all had the thinking (plan) that they will do anything to win the election, come into this place and then claim that they did something extra to it and then claim the glory of this airport for which Honourable Dickson toiled night and day to build for us."
Senator Ewhrudjakpo who expressed gratitude to God for the successful separation of the co-joined twins, also commended President Mohammadu Buhari, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique, and the medical teams from Federal Medical Centre, Yola and its Yenagoa counterpart for their various contributions.
Describing the twins as special babies, he said apart from crude oil, the state has achieved another remarkable historical feat by producing the first successfully operated Siamese twins in the South-south region of the country.
The Deputy Governor, who promised to take responsibility for Baby Grace, one of the twin babies including her university education, assured the parents of the state government's support to ensure their upkeep.
He made some personal cash donations to the parents, the medical team that carried out the surgery and delivery of the twins.
According to him, 'It is history in the sense that these jewels of Bayelsa, the Niger Delta and South-south left our shores in helicopter and (today) they are brought back in a jet that landed on our own airport.
"It is also history because this is the first time we are having co-joined twins in the South-south that have been successfully operated who are from Bayelsa where crude oil was first discovered to enrich Nigeria even though we have not got enough benefits.
"But let me also use this opportunity to thank the President of the country, General Mohammadu Buhari, the Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar Sadique, the FMC, Yola and your medical team in FMC, Yenagoa for your various contributions that have made the history we are celebrating today."
Speaking earlier, the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Dr Dennis Alagoa, said Baby Grace and her sister, Mercy, were born on the 12th of December last year at Nembe General Hospital.
According to Dr Alagoa, the Siamese twins were transferrred to his hospital a day after their delivery and were under intensive care until January 2nd this year when they were flown to FMC, Yola, Adamawa State for surgery.
The Chief Medical Director who also appreciated the Chief of Air Staff and the medical team of FMC, Yola for their supportive roles, requested the state government to provide employment for the parents to guarantee the upkeep of the twins.
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