- Stay away from foundation laying, community tells ministers
Indigenes and residents of Ido Osun community in Egbedore Local Government of Osun State yesterday protested against Governor Ademola Adeleke for relocating the ongoing M.K.O. Abiola Airport project to his hometown, Ede.
It will be recalled that Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, while announcing the activities lined up for Adeleke’s second anniversary, said the governor with Works and Aviation ministers, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo. would flag off the foundation laying of the new airport in Ede.
Traditional chiefs, leaders and other indigenes of the town, led by the Eesa of Ido-Osun, Eesa of Ido-Osun, Chief Oyewale Basiru and former lawmaker in Osun Assembly, Abiodun Awolola, gathered at the palace to protest.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Is Adeleke governor of Ede or Osun State?’, ‘We say no to favouritism’, ‘Give us back our airport’, ‘Relocating the airport to your hometown is nepotistic’, ‘This is not what you promised us’, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Awolola berated the decision of Adeleke to relocate the airport project, on which over N20billion had been spent by past governments.
He said: “Removing the airport in the original location to Adeleke’s hometown will amount to nepotism and favouritism, which contradict the oath of democracy he took when he was sworn in as the governor.
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“Adeleke made a promise to our late king to complete the project, but the reverse is the case now. Unfortunately, Kolapo Alimi, who served in the Rauf Aregbesola administration and now under Adeleke, is the one stating reasons to relocate the airport despite knowing the level of work done and the billions of Naira that have been expended on it.
“The government decision is unacceptable and unjust, as it undermines the rights and interests of the people of Ido-Osun.’’
The community urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on Governor Adeleke from relocating the airport to his hometown and order his ministers not to attend foundation laying of the new project in Ede.
‘’We urge Osun State Government to reconsider this decision, maintain original plan and complete the airport because the decision can lead to a communal clash between Ido-Osun and Ede communities, as they share boundaries.
“Citing encroachment as reason for relocating the airport lacks logic because their institution encroached on that land before time. We have enough land for the airport.”