Protests in Osun over relocation of airport project to gov’s home town

The state government’s plan to relocate the state airport project from Ido-Osun to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s hometown, Ede has taken another shape as residents of Ido-Osun on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest against it.

According to reports, the protest which was led by youths under the aegis of the Ido-Osun Youth Forum, saw participants chanting anti-government songs along the Ido-Osun-Ede Road to reject the government’s claim that the current site was no longer suitable due to encroachment by individuals who had erected structures on the project land.

While reading a statement on behalf of the community, former Egbedore State Constituency representative in the Osun State House of Assembly, Abiodun Awolola, who accused the governor of nepotism said, “this attempt to relocate the Ido-Osun airport to Ede is insensitive and must be resisted. Those advising the government to treat Osun as if it is Ede State should be ashamed of themselve.”

____Awolola highlighted the historical significance of the airport, stating that it had existed since 1936 before being abandoned, nothing that successive administrations, including those of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, and Governors Bisi Akande, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rauf Aregbesola, and Gboyega Oyetola, had all made commitments to reviving the project.

_____“Over N20 billion has already been spent on the Ido-Osun Airport. Abandoning it for a new project in the governor’s hometown would not only waste public funds but also cast the current administration as nepotistic.

“The airport, which houses the Nigerian Air Force Research and Development Centre and was designed to serve civil, military, and cargo aviation needs, should be prioritised, not sidelined,” he added.

However, Awolola urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevail on Adeleke to abandon the relocation plans, call on the Ministers of Works and Aviation, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo, to boycott the proposed sod-turning ceremony at the new site.