Is it for Afe Babalola?
By
Wale Ojo – Lanre
2 – 12- 2016
I AM SAD! Ekiti matter on my mind
Do you want me to be happy?
No
I am not happy at all
And I am not
They are my friends
24 of them Arrived Nigeria
From Trinidad and Tobago
Not so rugged people
Visited Badagry
Spent 5 days
Spent quite much money there
in hotels and bought a lot of Souvenirs
They were in Lagos
Love to visit Ekiti State
visit the land of pounded yam
See Ire where Ogun God of Iron descended into the earth crust
Ikogosi on their mind
Erina Waterfall, Ipole iloro on the list
Erio, the new Jerusalem was there
Usi, where the first Catholic Mass was held in 1913
Okutagbokutaleri in Ado included
Igede Stream, the Source of Osun River
Ero dam, the third largest man-made dam in Nigeria
But they cannot venture into Ekiti land
The trip from Badagry to Ekiti
The traffic chaos all the route to Ife
( Badagry -Mile 2, Lagos – Ibadan, Iwo road – ife )
Just because they want to visit a great land
Don’t you have an Airport in Ekiti? They asked
No, we have one in Akure?
I mean in Ado Ekiti, the capital city of your state?
No, We don’t? I responded
They checked the flight routes to Akure
The Arik flight is not there!
‘Sorry, we cannot make it to your state!
Your state is a paragon of tourism
You need an airport no matter the dimension
It is because of the need
Not for fanciful sake ”
So my state was edged out from the dollar rain
They are just one group
And I was thrown into sadness
That my people always allow politics, sentiment and individualism
To affect the decision on common interest
I remember when Chief Segun Oni was the Governor of the state
The Airport would have been constructed
But the then Minister wanted it in his town which is not geographically suitable for it then it meant to promote a certain huge agricultural project
But it was killed by the Fayemi’s government
But who could have done it if he had secured a second term
And when the present Governor brought the idea
Which I supported with full strength
Despite my political difference with him
For I know it is a good one
For Ekiti state and he will not take it along after his four years
Like the Governor’s House in Oke Ayoba built by Fayemi
But we killed it because of politics, personal hatred, perception about the viability and other erroneous reasons
That is how we have killed many programmes, schemes and projects
On the alter of personal animosity, political hatred, unreasonable sentiment, sheer opposition not thinking about the future of Ekiti
Malaysia is a country of 25 million
It has only 62 airports servicing special areas of needs
I am not happy but sad
That with the enormous agricultural potentialities in Ekiti
With the preponderance of tourism assets
we cannot see the reasons
Why we should have an Airport in Ekiti
That there is an Aiport in Akure makes no meaning to me
Akure may not need the Airport
They have oil which brings the state fund
So they don’t need it for a purpose
But Ekiti need it for a purpose!
If Governor Fayose’s government has been hamstrung from constructing an Airport
I am sure a reasonable and sensible government will do it in the future
I would have done it if I could
But I will support any individual
Who can do this
Who can and will make me happy
For Ekiti deserves Airport
No matter what
But it is not for Baba Afe Babalola
And if Baba Afe rose to the rescue
I would be happy
For Ekiti deserves and needs a commodity or cargo airport
Signed.
Wale Ojo – Lanre
Ibipeju Oluru Chamber
Upper Ogudu River
Irede Estate
Temidire Street
Usi Ekiti