- Safiu Kehinde
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has defended his decision to transfer the state’s airport project from Ido-Osun to Ede.
Adeleke cited the space requirement for the airport project as reason behind the transfer to his hometown.
The governor made this known during his address at the Town Hall panel discussion organised by Arise TV in Osogbo on Tuesday.
Speaking on his alleged concentration of developmental projects in Ede, Adeleke maintained that it is impossible for him to abandon his hometown while developing others to please naysayers.
‘So because I’m a governor, I should abandon my own town. Go and factcheck it. I just told you I just came back from Ife. Am I from Ife? I’m from Ede. Go and check Ila. Am I from Ila?
‘They have never done any dualised road in Ila. Do I have a flyover in Ede? No.
‘But I cannot be fixing other towns and abandon mine. I’m not a bastard. I will fix my town too.’ He said before delving into the airport project which he claimed was transferred to Ede due lack of enough space at the original proposed site in Ido-Osun.
Adeleke held that the Ido-Osun was an airdrome handed over to the Nigerian Air Force by the administration of his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola.
‘About the airport that you are talking about. It is not my fault that God bless my town with land.
‘The airport we initially have is not an airport. It is airdrome.
‘It was my predecessor that handed it over to the Airforce. It was used by the military for training ground. I told them no, they should go and find another land for the project.’ He said.
Adeleke also spoke on concerns surrounding the establishment of state police which had speculated to be used by state governors for personal ambition.
The Osun governor maintained that he will never indulge in using the state police for his personal gain if established.
‘I’m not that kind of Governor. I have the fear of God. If it is my son that committed offence, I will tell him to and face the law.’ He said.
On the August 15 Governorship Election, Adeleke expressed confidence in his emergence as the winner of the poll as he talked down possibility of losing and having to congratulate the winner.
‘You have gone round and seen the works our administration has done.
‘I want you to judge in that area and take a look at what we have achieved so far.
‘Forget about it, I will not lose this election. I’m so confident I won’t lose this election.’ He said.