Ido-Osun community protests relocation of airport project to Governor’s hometown

The Osun State government has previously proposed the construction of an airport in the Ido-Osun community, however, changes are now being made by Governor Adeleke.

Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State governor has initiated a move to relocate the proposed airport from the Ido-Osun community to his hometown in Ede.

Following the development, residents of the Ido-Osun community staged a protest on Tuesday, against the state government’s decision to relocate the proposed airport from their town.

The protest was organised by the Ido-Osun Youth Forum, and protesters marched along the Ido-Osun-Ede Road while expressing their dissatisfaction.

The state government’s excuse was that the original site in Ido-Osun had been encroached on by developers and wouldn’t efficiently serve the standard of the airport.

However, protesters disagreed with the state government’s excuse.

The spokesperson of the Ido-Osun community, Abiodun Awolola, accused Governor Adeleke of favoritism in making the decision.

“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 reads.

Awolola stated the historical importance of the airport, claiming that it had existed before Nigeria’s independence before being abandoned.

Additionally, 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.”

Abiodun Awolola called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and encourage Governor Adeleke to reconsider the decision to relocate the airport project.

Similarly, some political associations like the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) criticized the relocation plan.

The chairman of the association, Adewale Adebayo, described the decision as politically driven and financially inadvisable.

“Shifting such a significant project to the governor’s hometown is a clear act of favoritism and undermines the investments already made at the Ido-Osun site.

Osun State cannot afford to squander N20 billion in public funds, particularly during this period of economic hardship” Adebayo said.