By Ife Osemedua
There appears to be no end to the controversy surrounding the Anambra International Cargo Airport project, initiated by the Governor Willie Obiano administration, as video emerged of protesting women, calling on the governor to leave their land alone.
The women, in their numbers, were seen in the video chanting different invectives in Igbo language which included, “Obiano bu onye ori, onwu kai-kai”, meaning Obiano is a ‘thief and a consumer of strong drink’.
The protesting women are from Ivite community in Umueri, Anambra East local government of Anambra state.
Though the women did not state their grievance, 365Daily gathered that they were expressing their displeasure with the state government, which they said used the construction of a proposed cargo airport in their area to grab their lands for a project that has simply refused to see the light of day, while the government has less than one year more in office, hence the frustration and name-calling.
The airport, which is located at Umueri in Anambra state, and being developed on a 1500 acre site, was expected to be ready for commissioning, next month, April 2021, but nothing at the moment points to the realization of that target.
Governor Obiano, had on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, during a visit to the Minister for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in his office in Abuja, promised that by April the airport would be ready for use by Anambra people who are known for commerce.
The governor had said, “We are sure of the date because we have the money to complete it. We are not asking for any assistance, nor are we taking any loans.
“I am here personally to brief you on the project and to invite you to commission it for us in April 2021.”
He said the decision to embark on the airport project was informed by the need to cater for the economic interests of the state and its environs, claiming that the airport has the second-longest runway in the country, after the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
Recall that the Anambra State Government set aside the sum of N6 billion for the construction of the Umueri International Cargo Airport near the state capital, Awka.
Obiano said he is investing into the airport to fulfil the promise he made during his 2017 governorship re-election campaign, noting that an international airport in the state will bring economic development and increase the income base in the state.
Worried by the delay of the project since 2017, the traditional ruler of Umueri Community, Igwe Ben Emeka, tasked the government to complete the project as soon as possible, seeing that the aerial survey equipment has been released.
According to our source, despite all the expectations of the people, they have not seen any sign that the governor will keep to his promise, even as his second-term in office is already winding up.
Many had expressed concern over the manner the airport project has been shrouded in secrecy.
Recently, some journalists who attempted to visit the airport to ascertain the level of work already done, were curiously attacked by alleged government officials, thereby spiking speculations that all may not be going well with the project.