A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, has called on the Bayelsans to take their destiny into their hands by voting for a leader who will change the fortunes of the state.

Sylva, who made the call in Abuja at the weekend, said he ensured that laudable projects were embarked upon during his era as governor and lamented the abandonment of projects by the present administration.

“We sited the international airport project along the East West Road with the runway getting close to Onitsha, which was meant to make the state benefit economically. But regretfully, the project was shifted by this administration to Amassoma,” he added.

He said the N50bn spent on the runway so far appeared to make it the most expensive runway in the world.

The ex-governor also questioned the rationale for establishing the University of Africa in the governor’s village, Toru Orua, in Sagbama Local Government Area instead of using the funds to develop the Niger Delta University, which is owned by the state.

He said what Bayelsans needed presently was human capital development, which he said he took as his main focus during his tenure as governor.

The ex-governor said he signed a deal with Hyundai motor Company for a skills acquisition centre, where graduates would be sent to South Korea to work, adding that the deal was stalled.

He said Lagos appeared to be progressing because each succeeding administration continued with the projects left by its predecessor instead of destroying such projects.