9th November, 2021
By Jethro Ibileke
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is at war with the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC over the decision of Governor Godwin Obaseki government to build a new airport at Uzairue, near Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
A team of aviation experts, led by Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, the chief of staff to Edo deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu recently visited the site of the airport project in Uzaire.
Speaking on behalf of his boss, Ijegbai reiterated the determination of the state government to forge ahead with the plan to construct the passenger airport in Edo North because of the potential economic benefit for the area.
However, APC, in a statement by its Assistant State Publicity Secretary, Victor Ofure Osehobo on Sunday dismissed the Airport project, describing it as “another of Governor Obaseki’s long list of audio projects strong on paper but non-existent in reality, conceived, designed and perfected to confuse the people.”
The party wondered why Governor Obaseki will embark on an airport construction project that has little or no direct bearing on the lives of Edo people.
“Aviation requires humongous, long-term investment. It is not about planting cassava and harvesting in a matter of months. The investment banker of a Governor appears completely lost on this front. Investors will tell him, that an airport is not a portfolio, the tree-branch-breaks-the-bird-flies kind of investment.
“Governor Obaseki should please wake up from his slumber and face reality. This idea of an airport is misplaced, out of place and pedestrian. There is a lot to do, and the time to start is now,” Osehobo had said.
But, responding, the PDP in a statement on Tuesday by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, described APC as a vision less and clueless party that is stuck in the past.
He said: “In the last few weeks the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State has been trying to understand and study the newly selected members that make up the State Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Edo state.
“We have been trying to comprehend if this new team is motivated or propelled by the need to serve Edo state and her people. We have been wondering if APC has a vision for the future or they are stuck in the past.
“We have reached our conclusion…,they are stuck in the past, motivated by greed and remain visionless and clueless!
“It’s a shame Edo state is not blessed with a vibrant, visionary and knowledgeable opposition in the form of APC.
“In a futile attempt to sound knowledgeable and because they don’t know, they resort to catchy headlines and empty rhetoric,” PDP said.
It added: “One of their assistants, a butterfly, who thinks himself a bird, sits in a dingy office and rolls out press statements he is too arrogant to ascribe to his principal or the state chairman, obviously making assertions that are personal to him.
“Clearly, his lack of vision, consultation and ignorance are always manifest in his write ups and we will be doing Edo state and her people a disservice if we do not advice Edo people on the worthlessness of the rantings and ramblings of the Assistant State Publicity Secretary of Edo APC.”
The statement advised APC in the State to stop making spurious, irresponsible and unsubstantiated claims that betray the bitterness, delusion and angst in them, adding, “Opposition politics requires intelligence, tact and not childish tantrums!”