Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
With the successful landing and take off of the first ever airplane at the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport on Thursday, an international trade expert and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Odogbolu local government, Omooba Adekunle Adebayo Ayoola has saluted the foresight of the former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who conceived the project around 2008 and even got federal government approval for the construction of the airport.
Omooba Adekunle Ayoola said that, Gov Dapo Abiodun who went against all odds to get the projects done climaxing into the epoch-making event of Thursday, when dignitaries across the country, including the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo witnessed the landing and the take off of the first airplane at the international airport, should be commended for his patriotism and dogged commitment to raising bar of excellent service delivery in government.
Ayoola disclosed this while speaking to journalists during the historical event. He said that by this courageous act of Gov Dapo Abiodun, it is now becoming clearer that there can really be continuity in governance which will definitely be for the good of all.
He said the successor to Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Sen Ibikunle Amosun had left the project untouched for eight years while the site of the project had already been turned a dumpsite before Gov Abiodun, after about two years in office kicked off the project that is estimated to provide at least 25,000 job opportunities.
Ayoola said ” as an international trade expert and someone who moves around the world regularly, I know the importance of airports be it passenger or cargo designated. The impacts of airports on the socio-economic development is huge, very unquantifiable at times.
“And as someone who deals with exporting of agric produce to other parts of the world I can tell you for free that this project will undoubtedly help greatly in the agric value chains. This means more money for the farmers and the people.
“It’s against this background that I am lauding Otunba Gbenga Daniel, OGD for being a man of foresight who can see into the future and put plans to work. Reason why the former governor should be voted for on Saturday as the next Senator representing Ogun East. He will surely surprise us all.
“I equally thank Gov Dapo Abiodun for his patriotism, he could have decided not to continue with the project but he did what is right and today, Ogun State is appearing on the world map for good, no wonder many are saying that the governor truly deserves another term”