Ekiti Airport Project, A Big Fraud, Says Ex-Speaker

By Yaqoub Popoola Correspondent, Ado-Ekiti

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Femi Bamisile, has said that  the Ekiti Airport project being undertaken by the administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose was nothing but an avenue to swindle the state.

Bamisile, an ex-Speaker of the State Assembly, queried the rationale behind a N17 billion Airport in an economically disadvantaged state like Ekiti, less than 30 minutes drive to Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, Bamisile refuted the impression of his possible return to the Peoples Democratic Party, following his alleged meeting with Fayose recently.

But Ekiti State Commissioner for Works, Kayode Oso, who supervised the clearing of 4,000 hectares Airport site on Friday, said Fayose had set up a planning committee for the project a month ago, adding that the committee had consulted widely with relevant consultancy firms and professionals and also visited several airports in the country for assessment.

Bamisile was said to have held a secret meeting with Fayose in a popular hotel in Ado Ekiti where a deal was sealed for his return to the PDP, where he was State Deputy Chairman before his defection to APC.

“I view this Airport project as an attempt to loot our funds. Why can’t Fayose take N1.6 billion out of the N17 billion to be wasted on this project to construct Ado-Ikere-Iju road? Of what economic advantage has the airport in Akure has on Ondo State? It was even underutilized.