Residents of Ido Osun in Osun State expressed their strong opposition to the planned relocation of the state airport project from Ido-Osun to Ede during a protest organized by the Ido-Osun Youth Forum. The protesters rejected the government’s reasoning that the current site was unsuitable due to allegedly encroaching structures. Ex-member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Abiodun Awolola, articulated the community’s stance, labeling the relocation as nepotistic since Ede is the hometown of the state governor, Ademola Adeleke. Awolola emphasized that the Ido-Osun Airport has been a historical site since 1936 and has received over N20 billion in investments from successive governments, arguing that abandoning this progress for a new airport in Ede would waste public resources.
Awolola further elaborated on the significant potential of the Ido-Osun Airport, which includes vital facilities like the Nigerian Airforce Research and Development Center and the Aviation City, meant to cater to civil, military, and cargo aviation alongside an AI drones manufacturing hub. He highlighted that the airport had the potential to thrive and develop under the current administration instead of transferring the project to Ede. This move, he insisted, would reflect poorly on the government’s commitment to the people of Osun State, as it would signify neglect of a historical project for the sake of personal interest.
In addition to the protest organized by local residents, the opposition party Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has also voiced its condemnation of the governor’s decision. The party’s chairman, Adewale Adebayo, articulated that relocating a critical infrastructure project to the governor’s hometown raises concerns about political favoritism and threatens to undermine the already sustained investments in the Ido-Osun site. The APM stressed the troubling nature of potentially wasting N20 billion of public funds, especially in light of ongoing economic challenges, and labeled the relocation as a move that prioritizes personal interests over the state’s collective good.
Awolola urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and persuade Governor Adeleke to halt the planned airport relocation, underlining the necessity for unity and accountability in governance. He also called on federal ministers, specifically the Ministers of Works and Aviation, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo, to reconsider their attendance at the sod-turning ceremony for the new airport site in Ede, suggesting their involvement would further legitimize what he views as a politically motivated decision that lacks transparency.
The protests and public criticisms highlight a growing frustration among Ido-Osun residents and the opposition party regarding perceived disregard for established community interests and concerns about accountability in government decision-making. The narrative surrounding the airport project signifies broader themes of governance, local representation, and ethical administration in Osun State. While the state government may argue necessity as the reason for the relocation, community sentiment strongly aligns with preserving the historical and infrastructural significance of the Ido-Osun airport.
Attempts to contact the Osun State Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, for a response to the protests and opposition statements were unsuccessful. No comments had been provided at the time of the reporting, emphasizing the ongoing detachment between the state administration’s decisions and the public’s sentiments. This disconnect might exacerbate tensions as residents demand accountability and transparency from their leaders in navigating critical development projects that directly impact their community’s future.
