MKO Airport: Ido-Osun Indigenes Allege Plot To Cede Project To Ede
INDIGENES of Ido-Osun, Egbedore local government of Osun State, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke administration of plotting to change the name of the host community of MKO Abiola Airport, Ido-Osun, to Ede, the hometown of the governor.
According to the Ido-Osun indigenes, some government officials in the Adeleke administration have begun move to systematically add Ede as the host community of the airport, warning that such move would be resisted.
The indigenes, in a press statement issued by the President of Ido-Osun Youth Forum, Prince Abass Adeyeye, accused the Chairman of the Airport Committee, Hon. Bashiru Salam, of spearheading the alleged plot.
They alleged that the airport is now been described as “MKO Abiola International Airport, Ido Osun, Ede North/Egbedore Local Government Areas”, saying such practice is fraudulent.
According to the indigenes, at no time was the airport jointly hosted by Ido-Osun and Ede, calling on Adeleke and security agencies to correct the anormaly before it leads to communal clash.
The statement which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, reads: “It should be noted that from the formation of the Airport Committee, an error of interest was made by deliberately exempting an indigene of Ido-Osun to serve in such a committee, knowing fully well that the airport is in Ido-Osun and was and never will be jointly hosted.
“On the inception of their activity, the committee paid a visit to the Airport site for assessment without making a stop at the Alayemore of Ido-Osun palace which is the first errored step of the committee.
“This entities in government immediately changed many of the airport project document to appear Ido-Osun, Ede North/Egbedore LGA, what other criminal ways of abuse of power and government privileges is more than this?
“Also, some career officers in the ministry of land and works were immediately asked to create fake documentation to cede some portion of Ido-Osun land to Ede North with the hope and believe that they could bury Ido-Osun as the project continues. And you think the government handlers are not responsible for staring the peaceful atmosphere of the state into chaos.
“We are calling the DSS to immediately investigate these accusations and make the report public and to the Governor for immediate action. No government entity will use Ido-Osun airport project to push us into the Ifon-Ilobu situation, but it should be noted that when tyranny becomes a norm, defence becomes a duty.”
The indigenes called for the removal of Salam as the chairman of the airport committee, just as they demanded the inclusion of a non-partisan Ido-Osun indigene into the airport committee.
“We are calling on the governor, that as the host community of the Isiaka Adeleke International Airport, we immediately request immediate sack of the Airport committee Chairman, Hon. Bashiru Tokunbo Salam, on ground of abuse of privileges. Inclusion of Ido-osun indigenes who is not a politician as member of the airport committee
“That the Osun state government official website where the evil misrepresentation of Ido-Osun where the Airport is located reads Ede North/Egbedore LGA should be immediately corrected as no part of Ido-Osun belongs to Ede North LGA and no part of the airport also belongs to Ede North LGA.
“Immediate investigation and dismissal of career officers, including the PS who allows their offices to be used for illegal activities that could disrupt the security and peace of the state”, said the indigenes.
Ismaeel Uthman is an Editor, Media Consultant with over 14 years experience in print journalism.
A consummate writer and reporter, Uthman has received accolades for his works, especially one that appeals for good governance and community development. He is a recipient of many laurels, including the Best Investigative Reporter (Print) Award of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, in 2020.
