Residents of Ido-Osun, Osun State, on Tuesday, protested against the state government’s plan to relocate the state airport project from Ido-Osun to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s hometown, Ede.
The protest, led by youths under the aegis of the Ido-Osun Youth Forum, saw participants chanting anti-government songs along the Ido-Osun-Ede Road.
According to The PUNCH, the protesters rejected 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.
Reading a statement on behalf of the community, former Egbedore State Constituency representative in the Osun State House of Assembly, Abiodun Awolola, accused the governor of nepotism.
“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 themselves,” the statement read.
Awolola highlighted the historical significance of the airport, stating that it had existed since 1936 before being abandoned.
He noted 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.
Awolola urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevail on Adeleke to abandon the relocation plans.
He also called on the Ministers of Works and Aviation, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo, to boycott the proposed sod-turning ceremony at the new site.
Similarly, the Allied Peoples Movement condemned the relocation plan.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Adewale Adebayo, the party described the move as politically motivated and wasteful.
“Relocating such a critical project to the governor’s hometown reeks of favouritism and disregards the resources already committed to the Ido-Osun site. Osun State cannot afford to waste N20 billion of public funds, especially in these economically challenging times,” Adebayo stated.
Efforts to get a response from the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, proved unsuccessful, as calls to his line did not go through, and he had not responded to a text message at the time of filing this report.
