Dare Babalola
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State Otunba Segun Showunmi, has lauded Gov Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for constructing the Gateway International Airport.
Showunmi, who is the Convener of The Alternative Movement, said this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Friday.
The PDP chieftain noted that the recent commencement of commercial flight operations at the newly constructed international airport along Ilisan-Iperu Remo road no doubt marked the beginning of greater economic prosperity for the residents of the state.
He also commended the former governor of the state and Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, under whose conceived the project was conceived in 2005.
Stressing that the Airport had made Ogun become a truly hub of economic prosperity, Showunmi insisted that anyone who refused to invest in Ogun is losing out.
He cheerfully commended the governor for putting up infrastructure in the airport, saying that for any development to occur, there must be infrastructure.
He said, “I had the privilege of knowing when this idea was conceived, during the reign and the government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
“I happened to work in the government, in the same office as the Economic Adviser at that time. So I have an idea of how we got all this started, and when you think about the number of years it has taken us before we can get the project done, then we have to thank God.
“Many people, organisations and business owners wanted the airport built, knowing that if we build it, investors will come. Anyone who wants to transform any environment, first of all, make sure they put infrastructure for multimodal transportation in place, like Abiodun has done.”
The PDP chieftain added, “On behalf of all good citizens of Ogun State at home and in diaspora, I want to say huge congratulations to His Excellency, Omoba Dapo Abiodun, the man who ensured that, in our lifetime, a commercial flight landed in Iperu, Ilishan, Ogun State.
“Over time, people are going to learn that this infrastructure will generate more income than all of the medley of misdirected activities they prioritise instead of facing the things that are important”
Abiodun had earlier inaugurated the first commercial flight of the state-owned airport
The aircraft owned by Valuejet, with registration number 5N-BXS and 90 passengers on board, departed the airport at 10:10 a.m. for Abuja.
