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Tag: Ekiti airport

  • Ex-governors, Senate Leader, FAAN MD board maiden commercial flight to Ekiti airport

    Ex-governors, Senate Leader, FAAN MD board maiden commercial flight to Ekiti airport

    Former Ekiti State governors Ayodele Fayose, Niyi Adebayo and Dr. Kayode Fayemi were among personalities who yesterday boarded the maiden full commercial flight to Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport. 

    The inaugural flight operated by United Nigerians Airlines, which touched down at 11am, took off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 10:30am.

    Besides the ex-governors, those also on board the aircraft with registration number 5B-BWY were the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, serving National Assembly members from Ekiti State and the Chairman of United Nigerian Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo.

    Upon arrival, the aircraft was honoured with a traditional water cannon salute by the airport fire service vehicles.

    Speaking at the inauguration, Governor Biodun Oyebanji described the beginning of commercial flights at the airport as a major breakthrough in the state’s economic development drive.

    He said the first commercial flight marked the beginning of a new chapter in Ekiti’s transportation infrastructure and a significant step toward the state’s long-term vision of a prosperous economy.

    Oyebanji said the state government had invested N49.7billion directly into the project since inception, while Chief Afe Babalola donated navigation equipment worth $1.6million and built a 100-car parking facility.

    He said his administration spent more than N34billion for the completion of critical civil works, airfield lighting, control tower, fire station, meteorological station, perimeter fencing, check-in and baggage systems, as well as ongoing workers’ quarters.

    Acknowledging the pioneering efforts of his predecessors, Oni, Fayose and Fayemi, for conceiving, acquiring and initiating the construction of the airport, Governor Oyebanji thanked President Tinubu for providing the support that enabled the state to complete the multi-billion-naira facility.

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    The Executive Director of CCECC Nigeria Ltd, the company that built the airport, John Zhao, described the launch of the airport as a milestone for the firm and Nigeria.

    He said the facility, transformed from bare land into a fully functional aviation hub, stood as a proof of what leadership and Renewed Hope Agenda could deliver through collaboration and vision.

    Zhao said the airport would serve as Ekiti’s “sky gateway,” stimulating employment, logistics, tourism, global exports and fresh investments in the service sector.

    He added that its multiplier effect would enhance connectivity, reduce travel time and elevate the state’s standing as an emerging regional gateway.

    Prof. Okonkwo described the commencement of full scale service as a significant step in expanding domestic air connectivity.

    He said the new route would boost Ekiti’s economic prospects by supporting tourism, commerce, agriculture and the creative sector.

  • Ekiti Airport begins commercial flights operation

    Ekiti Airport begins commercial flights operation

    Commercial flight operations have commenced at the the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, following the approval by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, for full operations.

    The inaugural flight operated by United Nigerians Airlines which touched down at exactly 11am took off from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja at 10:30am on Wednesday morning.

    Those onboard in the aircraft with the registration number 5B-BWY were the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Olubunmi Kuku, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Former Governors, Ayodele Fayose, Niyi Adebayo and Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Others include the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, all serving national Assembly members from Ekiti State and the Chairman of the United Nigerians Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo. 

    Upon arrival, the aircraft was honoured with a traditional water cannon salute by the airport fire service vehicles.

    Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday,Governor Biodun Oyebanji described the commencement of commercial flights at the Ekiti Cargo Airport as a major breakthrough in the state’s economic development drive.

    He said that the first commercial flight marked the beginning of a new chapter in Ekiti’s transportation infrastructure and a significant step toward the state’s long-term vision of a prosperous economy.

    He disclosed that the state government had invested N49.7bn directly into the project since inception, while Chief Afe Babalola donated navigation equipment worth $1.6m and constructed a 100-car parking facility.

    He explained that his administration spent more than N34bn for completion of critical civil works, airfield lighting, the control tower, fire station, meteorological station, perimeter fencing, check-in and baggage systems as well as ongoing staff quarters. 

    While acknowledging the pioneering efforts of his predecessors, Oni, Fayose and Fayemi for conceiving, acquiring and initiating the construction of the airport, the governor thanked President Bola Tinubu for providing the support that enabled the state to complete the multi-billion-naira facility.

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    In his remarks, the Executive Director of CCECC Nigeria Ltd, the company that handled the construction of the Airport, John Zhao, described the commercial launch of the Ekiti Airport as a proud milestone for both the firm and Nigeria.

    Zhao said the facility, transformed from bare land into a fully functional aviation hub, stands as proof of what leadership and Renewed Hope Agenda can deliver through collaboration and vision.

    According to him, the new airport will serve as Ekiti’s “sky gateway,” stimulating employment, logistics, tourism, global exports and fresh investments in the service sector. 

    He added that its multiplier effect will enhance connectivity, reduce travel time and elevate the state’s standing as an emerging regional gateway.

    The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, (UNA) Prof. Okonkwo who described the commencement of full scale service as a significant step in expanding domestic air connectivity. 

    Prof. Okonkwo said that the new route would boost Ekiti’s economic prospects by supporting tourism, commerce, agriculture and the creative sector.

    He expressed gratitude to the governor for creating a conducive environment, assuring high safety standards, quality service and reliable operations across its network.

  • Commercial flights begin at Ekiti airport

    Commercial flights begin at Ekiti airport

    After months of spadework and requisite regulatory approval, scheduled commercial flights will begin at Ekiti Agro-Allied International Airport in Ado-Ekiti.

    The beginning of flight operations into the new airport, it was learnt, was driven by the rising demand for improved air connectivity, as well as the desire to open a fresh chapter for air travel in the state, in order to provide residents, investors, government officials, students and visitors with a faster, safer and more convenient travel options.

    The flight operations, it was further gathered, supported Ekiti State’s development agenda.

    To consolidate Federal Government’s drive to support air connectivity across the country, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, will today lead a delegation of key stakeholders from the aviation industry, government representatives, leaders, business executives, among others, who will join the inaugural commercial flight from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to Ekiti Agro Allied International Airport.

    Speaking on the development, officials of United Nigeria Airlines said the flight operations marked a milestone in the expansion of air connectivity across Nigeria and reinforced the airline’s commitment to serving emerging routes with growing economic and social importance.

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    The inaugural flight, the carrier said, represented a major boost to the state’s economic prospects, providing support for tourism, commerce, agriculture and the creative industry that continued to flourish in the region.

    It said the initiative aligned with United Nigeria Airlines’ strategic vision of linking underserved destinations and enhancing mobility across Nigeria.

    The carrier said in a statement: “We are excited to bring United Nigeria Airlines’ signature warmth and dependable service to the people of Ekiti State. This route will strengthen regional accessibility and create new opportunities for business, leisure and socio-economic growth.

    “United Nigeria Airlines looks forward to serving Ekiti and offering passengers a seamless and comfortable travel experience as it continues to broaden its network across Nigeria.”

    The airline emphasised its commitment to high safety standards, quality customer service and reliable operations across its routes.

  • Making Ekiti airport a worthy investment

    Making Ekiti airport a worthy investment

    Sir: Skepticism is a commonplace in Ekiti State. At its creation in 1996, one of its egregious sons and then governor of Ondo State, Bamidele Olumilua, virulently castigated Ekiti State agitators as potential losers. In his mind-set, a proposed Ekiti State lacked resourcefulness for its survival. But Chief Afe Babalola took up the gauntlet and in cahoots with un-daunting individuals trudged on in the struggle and eventually got the state created.

    Twenty six years (1996 – 2025) Ekiti State is standing firm on its feet among its compatriot states and the antagonist of yore, Olumilua, has since benefited with a university named after him. The same scepticism seems to be trailing the current airport project as some doubters have dubbed Ekiti State as a landlocked state with no worthwhile stake for an airport.

    Many Ekiti State scholars have at several fora dismissed as a ruse the insinuation that Ekiti State is a landlocked state lacking the potential for optimal development. The debacle of Ekiti State arose from the poor mind-set and limited vision of the first set of military rulers who as non-indigenes merely parried their stay and failed to take the development of the state at its jugular and earnessed its real potentials.

    Statistically, Ekiti State has one of the highest population of professors and academic experts who are scattered in and around Nigeria, and even globally. What have been the contributions of these highly educated individuals to the development of the state?

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    It is time for the Ekiti State government to start to compel these groups of highly qualified indigenes to make contributions in cash and kind for the development of the state. At its apogee, the Iree clay industry ran in collaboration with Odu’a Investments Company was the pride of the state. But due to political interference coupled with mismanagement, the project collapsed.

    The government must revive the Iree clay bricks industry which at its zenith had customers scattered throughout the state of the federation. The time for the investment to prosper is now when people from all and around Nigeria can reach Ekiti State at their beck and call. Ekiti State is home to several tourist centres and monuments but many are not yet developed into international standards.

    The Ikogosi Waterfall and Erin Water Spring are wonderful natural occurrences which people from all walks of life will marvel to see and watch. The state government must boost all the socio-cultural centres to act as sources income and of yearly attractions to the state.

    Ekiti State should be ready to partner with the states that are contiguous to it like Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi based on the principle of law of comparative advantages among them. From the fellers from the Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo that the airport compares favourably with those globally, for a fuller operation of their airport, more states in the Southwest must be encouraged to patronize the Ekiti Airport to make it more profitable and sustainable.

    As a linear State, Ekiti State has network of roads that traverse the nook and crannies of the state, but most of these roads are not maintained and with the advent of the rain, the roads will become impassable for motorists. The old Ilesha – Efon – Aramoko – Igede-Ado roads have been abandoned for lack of maintenance for a long time. Travelers from Lagos and Ibadan now have to pass through the Akure-Igbara Oke road to link Ilawe and Ado Ekiti, a route almost twice longer than the Aramoko – Ado Ekiti road.

    In the past couple of years the economic life of the towns along these bad and abandoned road axis have become paralyzed. With the airport, these roads the government must repair and re-activate to add perks and values to the operations of the airport.

    Finally, the Ekiti Airport at its completion will put the state on the radar of global watch and it is important for both the government and the indigenes of the state to be prepared for the upsurge and the luminous advantages the completion of the airport will confer on Ekiti State and its indigenes.

    With the successful accomplishment of the airport project, Ekiti State is on the threshold of global development and this will further keep at bay all would-be presumptuous sceptics.

    •Sunday Olagunju Ibadan, Oyo State

  • Oyebanji hails Babalola for funding Ekiti Airport facilities

    Oyebanji hails Babalola for funding Ekiti Airport facilities

    Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has appreciated the founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola SAN for his financial support towards the actualization of Ekiti Cargo international airport. 

    Oyebanji gave the appreciation,in a letter written to notify the elder statesman of the commencement of flight operations at the airport following the approval by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. 

    The letter, titled: “Letter of Appreciation,” and dated 18 December, was personally delivered to the senior lawyer at the university by the governor on Thursday.

    The letter reads in part: “On behalf of the government and good people of Ekiti State, I am delighted to formally express our heartfelt appreciation for the assistance you provided to the Ekiti State Government during the construction of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.

    “I am delighted to inform you that on 11th December 2024, we obtained clearance from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to commence non-scheduled flight operations for 6 months from 13 December 2024 to 15 June 2025. Your financial contribution for the purchase of navigational aids (CVOR/DME), control tower communications equipment and the construction of the car pack, was invaluable to the accomplishment, and we are immensely grateful for your willingness to help

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    “Sir, I wish to notify you that the NCAA has outlined conditions for the actualisation of the full commercial flight operation status which includes installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) to enhance the flight operational capacity of the airport and we will count on your unflinching support.

    “Once again, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and commitment to our shared passion and goals of development and prosperity for our dear Ekiti State. You are highly appreciated Sir, and please accept the assurances of my best wishes, as always.”

    In his response to the letter, Babalola said it was a good beginning, noting that if things had been as the governor was doing in the last three years, “we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

    He commended Oyebanji for what he described as his commitment on the project. “I thank you for all you have been doing and still doing.”

    He said: “Without a viable and functional transportation system, a state, a country is doomed. When America was discovered, there were no roads. But gradually and eventually, the whole area was tarred and the whole area evolved to becoming a state (country) that is a clear leader in the comity of nations today.

    “You know as much as I do that people can’t come to Ekiti because of the bad road network. As a matter of fact, many organizations that promised to come and invest in Ekiti State cannot actualize their dream because the state is land-locked, airport-locked, railway-locked and industry-locked. But all that is beginning to change and it will change to the advantage of all of us.

    “With this airport, there will be many job opportunities for our people. People coming in and out of the state will buy from our various markets. When people are gainfully employed, there will be no hunger. When there is no hunger, there will be no anger. And when there is no anger, there will be no violence.”

    Babalola promised that he, alongside his investments, Ekiti elites and partners would cooperate with the governor to make the state “one of the best and safest states to operate and invest in in the country. We will support you in all ways.”

  • Ekiti residents vow to monitor N1.4billion budget for Ekiti Airport

    Ekiti residents vow to monitor N1.4billion budget for Ekiti Airport

    Some Ekiti residents under the auspices of the Ekiti Tax for Service have vowed to ensure that the N1.4 billion earmarked for the Ekiti International Cargo Airport in the 2024 budget, is properly utilised.

    The Tax for Service policy group which is made up of artisans, NUT, hotelier/saw miller group, CSO, NBA, market women, and traditional chiefs, among others, said tax payment would become voluntary and easy to collect by the government if citizens are aware of how their money was spent.

    The group’s chairman, Prof. Christopher Oluwadare stated this on Wednesday at the unveiling of the Ekiti State Tax for Service Group Demand in the 2024 Budget, which was facilitated by the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) in partnership with the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room and UK International Development.

    According to Oluwadare, parts of the focus of the group included the N1.4 billion budgeted for the completion of the Ekiti International Cargo Airport and the money budgeted for Youth/Farmer empowerment and subvention to farmers.

    Others included the money allocated for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, rehabilitation of Markets across the state, sustainable Urban / Rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene, among others.

    He said: “Tax is compulsory because the government expects citizens to pay tax. But the tax will be voluntary and easy to collect if people who are mandated to pay tax can point to one thing or the other that the taxes they paid are used for.

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    “This project is to help sell government visions and projects in tax collection. This is so especially now that the federal government and other sub-national entities are trying to increase their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) because they cannot continue to rely on oil money or many coming from Abuja for payment of salaries and execution of projects.

    “The stakeholders are coming together to look at various aspects of the budget as it concerns their members and monitor the implementation. We are building our capacity on how to monitor projects so that at the end of the day, we can now say where the project is located.

    “We will be meeting continuously; we will visit all the MDAs to raise our observations about the implementation of the budget. We will say this is our observation, this thing is captured in your budget and we have not seen anything, are you saying that money has not been released for it? In doing so we will get feedback on the state of the projects, if there is a need to escalate it, we will invite the media and inform them of our observations.

    “If a road is to be constructed and it is captured in the 2024 budget and by August, nothing has been done, we will march to the Ministry of Works to demand why it has not started.”

  • SSG: Ekiti airport project coming in 2017 budget

    SSG: Ekiti airport project coming in 2017 budget

    •’Fayose needs new office to enjoy privacy’ 

    Ekiti State government is not backing down on its controversial airport project which has been entangled in legal web after it was stopped by a court order.

    The project is staging a comeback through the 2017 Budget to be presented to the House of Assembly by Governor Ayo Fayose in December.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti while addressing a briefing to herald activities marking the second anniversary of the Fayose administration in office justified the plan to construct a new Governor’s Office.

    Mrs. Alade, who is also the chairman of the anniversary committee during a question and answer session with reporters, claimed that “Fayose no longer enjoys privacy” at the current Governor’s Office hence the need to build a new one.

    She said the airport project had not been abandoned despite the court order stopping it which was secured by plantation farmers and land owners protesting the destruction of economic trees and farms on the land

    The SSG said: “The (airport) project has not been abandoned, work had to stop there because some people went to court and as a law-abiding government, we had to stop action there but it (the project) will be repeated in the 2017 Budget.”

    The airport, new Governor’s Office, new High Court and the ongoing flyover projects have generated criticisms from residents who see them as needless and waste of public funds.

    On the new Governor’s Office, she said: “This (old) Governor’s Office was not purpose-built; originally it was not meant to be a Governor’s Office. There is no privacy for Mr. Governor, Mr. Governor does not have the privacy to do his job.

    “Looking at the design, the new Governor’s Office is only meant for Mr. Governor and his personal aides. Other senior government officials like the SSG, the Chief of Staff and the Head of Service will remain in this (current) Governor’s Office.”

     

    Giving a breakdown of activities to mark the second year of the Fayose regime, Mrs. Alade disclosed that the foundation laying ceremony of the new High Court complex will be laid on Wednesday (today) same day Ikole and Omuo carriage ways will be commissioned.

    According to her, a block of classroom at Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home will be commissioned and the Efon Alaaye dual carriage way will also be inaugurated on Thursday.

    Mrs. Alade disclosed that Fayose will pay a visit to hospitals on Friday after which the foundation laying of the new Governor’s Office will be laid. Jumat service at the Government House Mosque and commissioning of Ikere dual carriage way will round off the day’s activities.

    There will an anniversary dinner on Saturday at Lady Jibowu Hall to be followed by a thanksgiving service on Sunday at the same venue.

    END

     

     

  • APC to EFCC: investigate Ekiti airport, market projects

    APC to EFCC: investigate Ekiti airport, market projects

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has urged the Economic and

    Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the new airport and market projects being carried out by Governor Ayo Fayose. The party wants the anti-graft agency to beam its searchlight on activities of Fayose and his business associates handling the projects maintaining that the projects were intended to siphon Ekiti funds into private pockets.

    The opposition claimed that due process was not followed in the award of contracts for the projects faulting a situation in which one of the companies awarded contracts in the state serve as both consultant and contractor.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun,  said the demand for EFCC investigation became imperative “in the face of mind-boggling revelations” in the execution of the proposed projects by the governor.

    The party accused Fayose of using his business associates as alleged fronts to misappropriate Ekiti money like he allegedly did during his first term in the moribund poultry project which gulped over N1.3 billion.

    Listing instances of cloudy deals through which the governor allegedly awarded questionable contracts to his family members and friends, Olatunbosun said:

    “Dothraki International Limited, a business name owned by one of Fayose’s sons, was contracted for the projects on road signs and Christmas lights within Ado Ekiti last December.

    “The contract, which gulped millions of naira, was used to siphon Ekiti money to

    Fayose’s family private account with flagrant disregard to due process “Grid Associates Nig Ltd, owned by Arch. Abiodun Fari, Fayose’s close friend who featured prominently in the EFCC case against Fayose on corruption charges is the same company which the governor has been using as conduit pipe to corner to corner government contracts.

  • Ekiti airport project: Oil palm farmer dies of shock

    Ekiti airport project: Oil palm farmer dies of shock

    •Govt stops work on site 

    Even before its take-off, the proposed Ekiti airport project has allegedly claimed its first casualty.

    An oil palm plantation farmer, Tijani Hakeem, reportedly died from shock after his farm was destroyed by bulldozers.

    The Nation gathered exclusively in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday that the government decided to stop the project for now, following the tension generated by the destruction of economic trees on the land.

    A meeting was held with traditional rulers, community leaders and families in the five villages affected.

    The communities affected are Igbemo, Igbogun, Aso Ayegunle, Ijan and Araromi Obbo spanning three local government areas of Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ado and Gbonyin.

    Secretary of Iwajo Family Oso Olorunfemi, who spoke after the meeting, said the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Taelolu Otitoju, promised to hold an enlarged meeting on the development.

    He added that Otitoju, who conveyed the agreement reached to Fayose through a telephone chat, agreed that work on the site would stop for now, pending more meetings with interest groups.

    Olorunfemi said aggrieved land owners and families met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Ademiloye Fasiku, who appealed to them to maintain peace and promised that bulldozers would be withdrawn for now.

    He said Fasiku sympathised with them on the economic trees and crops destroyed.

    Olorunfemi said: “It is unfortunate that an oil palm plantation owner, Tijani Hakeem, died from shock, following the destruction of his economic trees and crops.

    “The lives of these people depend on their plantations and we have told the government repeatedly that the land is not a virgin land.

    “The government officials were made to understand that there is nothing they can give us that is meaningful except adequately compensating us.

    “We told them we should be allowed to harvest the crops before anything is done on the land and see what has just happened now. If they insist on laying claim to the land, we must be put on notice and be compensated and relocated elsewhere.

    “Apart from the economic trees, we have a shrine and sacred trees on the land and our people are threatening to attack government agents with bees and leprosy.

    “This battle is not about gun or cutlass and now that it has involved a human life, it is better they stop doing anything on the land for now, until all issues are resolved satisfactorily.”

     

  • Ekiti airport project, a wasteful venture – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described the airport project being proposed by Governor Ayo Fayose as a “wasteful venture and the most economically unviable project at this period.”

    The party said embarking on such a gigantic project runs contrary to the governor’s claim that the state has no money, expressing fear that the N17 billion project would constitute a huge drainpipe on the “weak economy” of the state.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC described the planned project as an avenue to siphon money from state treasury.

    “The promotion of elite project while neglecting initiatives for the growth of local economy for the masses of the agrarian state was insensitive, wicked and selfish,” the party stated

    The project, Olatunbosun said, was mooted by its promoter for the purpose of “characteristic flight of the state funds” as, according to him, offers little or no hope for the local economy.

    While criticizing some community leaders for their “accomplice role” in the project mainly planned for the fancy of the few who see Ekiti State as their private property, Olatunbosun, condemned Fayose’s action of begging and cajoling some first class traditional rulers with “mouth-watering offers” to support “this wasteful venture.”

    Contending that an airport is not what Ekiti needs at the moment, Olatunbosun argued that airports in some neighboring states that are more economically viable have become inactive expressing fear that the same fate could befall the proposed airport.

    He said: “Of what economic sense and use is an airport to the economy of Ekiti when the Akure Airport is less than one hour drive to Ado Ekiti?

    “What has been the positive economic impact of the Akure airport on the economy of Ondo State, which has hundreds of big industries compared to Ekiti with none?

    “We wonder why the governor could not learn anything on the poor state of Ibadan Airport in that highly industrialised city.

    “To even think about such a needless and wasteful project has shown Fayose as very insensitive to the plight of the common man in Ekiti.

    “A governor that prefers an airport that risks lack of patronage to infrastructural development that will be beneficial to the people is a governor that doesn’t care about the welfare of his people.”