Those who think Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose is pursuing a flight of fancy concerning his plan to build a multi-billion naira airport in the land must be having a rethink, following news of activities to realise the project. The site at Aso Ayegunle village in Ado Ekiti is being cleared for commencement of construction.
But Fayose is putting the cart before the horse, which says a lot about his state of mind and the state of his administration. The land-owning Iwajo Family is disturbed that Fayose is doing things in the wrong order. A report said the family “is demanding compensation on the economic trees on the land ‘in line with the law of the land’.” According to the report, the family “claimed to have been on the land for over 500 years, saying the land was not suitable because it is a cocoa belt, which spreads to Igbemo-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area and never a virgin land.”
A statement issued by the family gives the impression that Fayose is continuing with pre-construction moves with impunity. Of course, it is no news that the governor enjoys acting with impunity, and continues to promote a culture of impunity.
The statement, signed by the family head, Chief Moses Ojo, the secretary, Osho Olorunfemi and Chief Italohun Fadahunsi, said: “Ekiti is known to be a cocoa-producing state and this site is renowned for cocoa production. To the best of our knowledge, any land being acquired by the government, it is expected that the government should settle the owner of the land and property therein before moving to site.”
It added: “If eventually the government sticks to its decision to site the project on this spot, there should be compensation and adequate notice given to allow those who have repayable crops to harvest their crops before moving to the site.”
The picture speaks of arbitrariness on Fayose’s part, as well as a possible contempt for consultation. It is apt to wonder how Fayose reached a decision on the use of the particular site for his airport project. Also, if his choice was informed by any thought, did he think about the issues raised by the family?
In a reflection of how Fayose’s government thinks, the Commissioner for Works and Chairman of the Airport Project Implementation Committee, Kayode Osho, reportedly “assured the people that adequate compensation would be paid to the owners of the land and economic trees.” According to the report, “the commissioner, however, was non-committal on when the compensation will be paid.”
There seems to be confusion about the place of the cart and the place of the horse. The Fayose administration cannot place the two correctly, in their correct places. It may not be incorrect to say that the government needs concrete correction.
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One cannot but sympathise with the people of Ekiti state on the eccentric governance they are currently subjected to by Gov Ayo Fayose. But a people will only get the kind of leaders they deserve. With their own hands and eyes wide open, they voted him to be thwir governor, with his antecedence. One can only hope, against hope!