The Deputy Governor of Osun State, Kola Adewusi has shed more light on the state government’s decision to relocate the airport project from its proposed location in Ido-Osun to Ede, citing non-availability of enough space for the project.
Adewusi provided this insight during a live radio current affairs program in Osogbo on Wednesday, noting that the proposed land allotted for the project was not enough for an international airport of that magnitude.
It was reported that the residents of Ido Osun on Tuesday protested the plan by the state government to relocate the state airport project from Ido-Osun to Ede.
Held under the aegis of the Ido-Osun Youth Forum, the protesters rejected the explanations offered by the government that the current site of the airport was no longer good enough, due to encroachment by people who erected structures on the land for the project.
Ex-member representing Egbedore State Constituency, Abiodun Awolola, who read a text on behalf of the protesters, held that relocating the airport from Ido-Osun to Ede, which is the governor’s hometown, is nepotic.
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Part of the text read: “Ido-Osun Airport has been in existence since 1936 before it was abandoned and then successive governments of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Bisi Akande, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola have all at their time made a very effective commitment in ensuring the airport comes to life.
“Over N20 billion have been expended on the Ido-Osun Airport by the past governments. Abandoning it to start a fresh project in the governor’s hometown, Ede will only paint the current government as nepotistic and amount to a waste of resources because the governor will have to dip hands into the coffers of the state for the fresh project.
“The airport which houses Nigerian Airforce Research and Development Center and the Aviation City, which is designed to serve civil, military and cargo aviation needs, as well as AI drones manufacturing hub, would have made drastic progress under governor Ademola Adeleke, rather than bury the age-long historic airport to start a new one in his hometown, Ede.”
Awolola also urged President Bola Tinubu to prevail on Adeleke to shelve the planned relocation of the airport.
He also implored Ministers of Works and Aviation; David Umahi and Festus Keyamo, invited to the turning of sod ceremony at the new site of the project, to shun the invite.
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