Residents of Ido-Osun in Egbedore Local Government Area, Osun State, on Tuesday protested Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision to relocate the ongoing M.K.O. Abiola Airport project to Ede, his hometown.
The announcement, made by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, during events marking Adeleke’s second anniversary, revealed plans to inaugurate a new airport project in the Olodan area of Ede by Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo. This sparked outrage among Ido-Osun community leaders, traditional chiefs, and indigenes.
Led by Chief Oyewale Basiru, the Eesa of Ido-Osun, and former lawmaker Abiodun Awolola, the protesters marched to the Oludo’s palace, holding placards with messages such as, “Is Adeleke governor of Ede or Osun State?” and “Give us back our airport.”
Awolola, speaking on behalf of the community, criticized the governor for abandoning the original airport site, where over ₦20 billion had already been invested by the previous administration. He labeled the relocation as “nepotism and favouritism,” contradicting Adeleke’s oath of democratic service to all Osun citizens.
Awolola noted that Adeleke had previously assured the late king of Ido-Osun that he would complete the airport at its original location. He further accused Kolapo Alimi, a government official who served under both Rauf Aregbesola and Adeleke, of hypocrisy for supporting the relocation despite being aware of the investments and progress made at the Ido-Osun site.
The protesters also alleged that the Adeleke family had encroached on airport land by constructing Adeleke University on part of the property. They called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and urged his ministers to boycott any ceremonies related to the new airport project in Ede.
Attempts to reach the Osun State government for a response were unsuccessful, as calls to the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Basiru Salam, went unanswered.
