By Stephen Ojate
It is typical of those in corridor of power to disregard constructive criticisms. Out of their myopic understanding, they atimes regard constructive critics as hungry people and adjudge them as those who want to gain the attention of government for political appointments or favour. This in no doubt accounts for the reason why why many brilliant people decide to keep mute over the affair of government undoing in the State.
The inability of pundits to speak where necessary is the reason leaders get away with things without proper scrutiny. As for me, I will not stop speaking no matter what those in government say about me. We are all stakeholders as the progress of the state is for all and sundry. It is on this basis I consider it appropriate to put my pen to paper again with a view to share my thoughts on the proposed International Airport in Kogi State.
We have heard that Kogi State government plans to spend a whooping sum of N50billion for an international Airport. The project, they hinted, would be sourced from SUKUK fund. The news as usual has elicited mixed reactions from cross sections of people in the state. Some applauded Governor Ododo for this initiative while other condemned it in entirety. This class of earlier people have described him as a proud son of the soil on his quest to bring project like International Airport to Kogi Central.
It is not disputable that Governor Ododo is striving very well to have a laudable project in his name but i make bold to say that the idea of Airport is a misplaced priority. If he sees other State Governors doing such, he should have a rethink and ask if this is what Kogi State needs now? This would have provided an ample opportunity to know the state’s comparative advantage.
Airport like this is appropriate for a State in Eastern part of Nigeria. They have many people abroad and are generally known for transacting international businesses unlike Kogi State whose inhabitants are majorly
farmers. Even the farming an average person in Kogi central engages in is basically for our daily survival
If the Governor is hinging his plan for food crops exportation, where are the supplus food items in our society? So, the idea of an International Airport is a misplaced priority. It would rather make sense if the Kogi State government uses the fund to site international football stadium just like how former Governor of Akwa Ibom did during his time. The idea of international football stadium would have repositioned Kogi central to the world as a tourism destination than the international Airport he is planning.
Stephen Ojate is a freelance journalist and public affair commentator based in Abuja. He reachable via Whatsapp number 09075716236.