By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde, has said his administration will deliver on the upgrade of Ibadan airport to international standard within 12 months.
The governor stated this while flagging off the ground breaking ceremony of upgrade to the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
He was accompanied at the event by his counterpart from Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ilyas Damagum and members of the National Working Committee of the party among others.
Makinde who disclosed that the first phase of the project has been awarded to Craneburg at a cost of N41billion thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the state government’s request to upgrade the facility.
He said the decision to embark on the project was based on logic, science and data noting that the government has also upgraded part of the facilities which increased the number of airlines including Ibadan in their flight schedules.
Makinde said “We have award this first phase to Craneburg at N41b.
“Anyone who wants to ask what we are doing, go to Angola, they just finished their own airport which was delivered at $3billion. This is no joke. If you want to tap into a $3billion industry, you must be ready to be bold and we are bold here in Oyo State.
“We have our data. For those who think this project is not proper, we take decisions based on logic, science and data. This decision to upgrade this airport is based on solid data and logic. If you have your own data that contradicts, please let us have a public debate. I’m sure in the next 12 months, this project will be delivered. I will push the envelope.
“We have also upgraded part of the facilities which increased the number of airlines including Ibadan in their flight schedules.”
He also at the event harped on delivery on dividends of democracy to the people from individuals, irrespective of their tribes, creed or political affiliation, rather than on political and tribal divisions that divides the people.
“I hear people talk about PDP, APC on one side and on another side, they will talk about Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa, here we do not know those divisions in Oyo State when it comes to delivery of dividend of democracy to our people.
“If you look at this committee to deliver this project, the Chairman is Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, an APC member, I’m wooing him, maybe he will come to the PDP but if he delivers this project and I may have to go with elders to woo him. For us, this is not about party or political difference, it is about who can deliver value to the people of Oyo state.
“Also, I have as a member of the Committee, an entrepreneur, one of the finest, and a legal icon with eagle mind, Dr Wale Babalakin, he’s from Osun State. So, it’s not about Oyo State indigenes only. We also have a northerner, Alhaji Kabir Muhammed, a former MD of FAAN, it doesn’t matter the tribe, what we want is people who can deliver for us. Here, we don’t care, wherever we can get our talent who can deliver, we will get them.
In his brief remarks, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke commended Makinde for his passion and commitment to developing and upgrading Oyo State and its people across all facet.
The governor also at the event declared support for the Damagum led NWC while also declaring unalloyed support for the party’s flagbearer for the Edo state governorship election.
Corenews reports that Makinde had in June announced that President Bola Tinubu approved his request to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to an international airport.
He subsequently set up an 11-man committee, headed by a former Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bimbo Adekanmbi, to oversee the delivery of the project.
