- Relocation Followed Due Process – Govt Committee
Claims by the Osun State Government on the relocation of the MKO Abiola Airport, Ido-Osun to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s hometown, Ede, is untrue and structured to justify the government’s nepotism on the matter.
Ido Osun Descendants Union, umbrella body of indigenes of Ido-Osun in Egbedore local government of Osun State in a statement made available to Osun Defender on Thursday held that the Adeleke Secondary School should be relocated to give way for the airport.
The statement jointly signed by Elder Timothy Adeleye, Ido-Osun Descendant Union President, Com. Akano Kamarudeen Opeyemi – Ido-Osun Youth Secretary and Hon. Abiodun Awolola – Publicity Chairman decried the reasons given by the state government for the relocation, calling on the Federal Government to wade in.
It also accused the Adeleke adminsitration of nepotism, prioritisation of private interests and absence of morality over the issue, urging it to reverse its decision on the relocation of the airport.
The statement reads in part, “The public statements by the Deputy Governor and the technical report confirm that the real motive behind these claims is to justify the relocation of the airport to Ede. This is a clear act of nepotism that prioritizes private interests over the collective good of Osun State. Rather than relocating the airport, the government should address the encroachment issue and prioritize the completion of the project for the benefit of future generations.
“According to the the Technical team, they have spent approximately 36 million naira for the design and wind analysis, this is not withstanding how much compensation is expected to be paid on the proposed Ede site with a acclaimed 1922.111 Hectares of land occupants. What else could be a definition of wasteful spending if not this?
“If houses and businesses are being destroyed in different part of the state by successive administration and even the present government in power to pave way for road reconstruction and expansions, the moral thing to do by the Adeleke Family is to lead by example by allowing their school to go since they are also encroaching on the airport land deliberately.
“They should relocate their school to somewhere else to allow the expansion of the runway. We are asking the government to explain to Osun state which of the Airport in Nigeria deos not house an Air Force Infrastructure.
“We, the entire people of Ido-Osun , call on the people of Osun State to unite in opposing this wasteful and unnecessary relocation of the Ido-Osun Airport. We urge the Federal Government to intervene, relocate the encroaching school, and ensure that this vital project serves the public interest,” Ido Osun community noted.
READ: Airport Relocation: Ido-Osun Community Accuses Gov Adeleke Of Nepotism, Vow To Resist Agenda
- Relocation Followed Due Process – Govt Committee
Defending the state government’s position on the matter, a member of the Airport Technical Review Committee, Mr. Lai Oriowo, stated that the existing site lacked sufficient space and infrastructure for the envisioned airport.
He said, “The existing runway which is 1.67km did not meet the required standard. The minimum runway for a standard airport is 4.8km. The runway length required for class 4E Aircraft is 3600 x 45m and additional minimum distance of 750 meters on both approaches for Runway End Safety Area/Clearway for instrument runway is 5,100m against the available dimension of 3,250m.
“Citing the runway at this site (Old Aerodrome Site) therefore, will require relocation of Adeleke Secondary School and also the displacement of some settlements at the other end of the site. The existing culvert of 65 metres transversely located at different sections of the running route and open/fabricated drainage already constructed are not ideal for an Airport. The required length of culvert across the runway should be 150m against 65m to cover both runway width and its strip.
“The uncompleted Terminal Building, Control Tower Building and Fire and Rescue buildings, are wrongly located with reference to the runway; Access to the Airport is limited to only Osogbo – Ede Road.
“The above reasons were cited as making the old site unsuitable for a full fledged airport. It will still serve as training school for the air force based on the MOU between the State and the Air Force.”
“Following the visit, the team recommended the site located at Akoda for the citing of the proposed Airport as against the Free Trade Zone. Consequently, the State Government was implored to proceed with the soil testing of the site as well as initiate the process of conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment by the Ministry of Environment and relevant Agencies.
The committee member further noted that the state government has paid the sum of Five Million, Ninety-One Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty-One Naira, Twenty-Five Kobo (N5,091,161.25) to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency for the Wind Rose and Daily Wind Analysis, adding that the sum of Thirty Million Naira (N30,000,000.00), has also been paid as fee for the airport design.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
