People of Ido-Osun in Egbedore local government of Osun state, Tuesday, staged a protest against the relocation of M.K.O Abiola International Airport to Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, recently said Ministers of Works and Aviation, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo SAN, have been invited to lay the foundation of the relocated airport at Ede on December 16 as part of activities marking the second year anniversary of the governor.
The angry youth of Ido-Osun, immediately prevented the bus of Adeleke University from passing through the community, warming that communal war may ensue between the two bordered communities over the relocation.
Led by the Eesa of Ido-Osun, Chief Oyewale Basiru and former lawmaker in the state, Abiodun Awolola, the traditional chiefs, leaders and other indigenes of the town, converged on the palace of Olojudo for a protest, describing the relocation as “unacceptable and unjust,” as it undermines the rights and interests of the people of Ido-Osun.
They carried placards of various inscriptions such as: ‘Is Ade 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.
Awolola who spoke on behalf of the community, faulted the decision of Adeleke to relocate the airport which his predecessors have spent over N20 billion on.
He said, “Removing the airport from the original location to Adeleke’s hometown will amount to nepotism and favouritism which oppose to the oath of democracy he took when he was sworn in as the governor.
“Adeleke made a promise to our late king to complete the project but the reverse is the case now. Unfortunately, Kolapo Alimi who served under the government of Rauf Aregbesola and now under Adeleke is the one stating reasons to relocate the airport despite knowing then̈ level of work done and the billions of naira that had been expended on it.”