WHY I CARRIED PROTEST BANNER AT EKITI CARGO AIRPORT INAUGURATION — WALE OJO-LANRE
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WHY I CARRIED PROTEST BANNER AT EKITI CARGO AIRPORT INAUGURATION — WALE OJO – LANRE
October 15, 2022
Just because today is my finest moment in Ekiti State.
I have been dreaming that an Airport should be planted in Ekiti.
I know the value and import of an Airport to a landlocked state like ours.
I know the benefits of an airport to boost the economy of this state
and I know the essence of an airport to the development and advancement of tourism, arts and culture.
I have visited Malaysia three times in my life.
The country has only 27 million souls.
Malaysia has over 64 Airports.
Malaysian airports are targeted ventures- tourism, agriculture and IT.
My push for an Airport in Ekiti
was stoked by the need to effectively service the tourism potentialities of the state and I started pushing and advocating for the planting of an airport in Ekiti in 2004.
So in 2018 when Asiwaju Segun Oni muted the idea of planting an airport in Ado Ekiti, I quickly supported him with all my heart but unfortunately, one of the sons of Ekiti who was then a Minister frustrated the move to achieve something concretely on this then by Engineer Segun Oni’s government?
And when Dr John Kayode Fayemi came in for the first term and I went to visit him in the office in the company of Remi Oladoye, he told us that if he won the 2nd term election, he would plant a cargo Airport in Ado Ekiti.
I promised to work, campaign and do everything humanly possible for him to win the 2nd Term ticket but he did not make it.
Despite my strong opposition to Fayose’s Government when he played with the idea of constructing an Airport again, I publicly deposed to a 15-paragraph affidavit before the public Tribunal stating that though I abhor his government like a plague, I support his intention of building an airport.
Many Ekiti hurled insults at me on social platforms, calling me names but did not give a hoot as I viewed most of them as ignorants and optional illiterates.
Dr Ayo Fayose created noise around the project and left it to rest without any tangible physical feat on it.
However, when Dr Fayemi was popularly elected for the 2nd term, he made known his determination to commence the planting of a cargo Airport in Ado and assured us that it would be ready before he left.
I enthusiastically energised my intellectual commitment and advocacy for the support of the project.
. ..thus my happiness knows no bounds today when Dr John Kayode Fayemi inaugurated the first airport in Ekiti State
It is my conviction that Governor Kayode Fayemi has not only done well in Ekiti State but has diligently immortalised his name not only in the consciousness of the present generation but essentially, generations yet unborn who will appreciate not only his robust sense of diligence at work but also praise him for his futuristic leadership.
One fact that vindicates the notion that Ekiti deserves an airport is the fact that all governors that have ruled Ekiti know the importance of having an Airport in Ado Ekiti and tried albeit unsuccessfully to establish it except Dr John Kayode Fayemi.
Thus, the agrarian determination and commitment of Governor Kayode Fayemi who started the planting and inauguration of an airport in Ado Ekiti during his tenure deserves a huge commendation.
May God bless JKF and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
Congratulations.
To Ekiti State
Congratulations
To Tourism Sector.
Signed
Amb Wale Ojo- Lanre,
Usi Ekiti.
October 15, 2022
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