Airports , no doubt, are critical social
infrastructure without which any nation cannot function. That perhaps is the
reason why virtually every Nigerian governor wants to be involved in the
project once they assume office.Many would argue, however, that their preference
for airports above other critical social infrastructure is informed by the huge
platform it offers for diversion of state resources into private pockets.That
may explain why some state governors are falling head over heels to launch
airport projects in spite of statistical assertion that only four of the 29
existing airports in the country are viable.
At the moment, two Southwest governors are in the eye
of the storm over issues that border on the construction of airports in their
states.One of them, according to reports, has drawn the ire of some indigenes
of the state who are threatening fire and brimstone over his decision to
relocate the airport project begun by his predecessor from their community to
his home town.
The enraged indigenes of the affected communities have
already issued a strong warning to two ministers invited by the governor to
flag off the foundation laying of the new airport to stay away from the
ceremony.
Another Southwest governor is under intense pressure
to probe his predecessor over the billions of naira the latter claimed to have
spent on the state’s airport project with nothing tangible to show for it.A
very influential legal luminary in the state, who is said to be highly
interested in actualisation of the state’s airport project, is said to have
mounted intense pressure on the sitting governor to probe his immediate
predecessor’s spending on the project.He is said to be particularly miffed that
a very close person to the immediate past governor won a N750 million contract
for the proposed airport’s fence and the said sum was released without the
contractor laying a single block.
Ironically, the former governor is at the vanguard of
people that are now pontificating on good governance for the country.
Comments:
Leave a Reply