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KEYAMO AS MINISTER OF THE YEAR: Why I Won't Join The Cheering Crowd -- By Zik Gbemre

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has been glorified as the "Minister of the Year." By what criteria? By which credible awarding platform? Frankly, I don't care.

I will not join the hysteria his cheerleaders are creating, nor will I be swayed by the exaggerated value they ascribe to this petty, self-glorifying recognition.

Call me a tribalist Urhobo man if you wish, but I will only start paying attention when Keyamo's stewardship begins to manifest significant progress in Urhoboland.

Keyamo boasted, just weeks after his ministerial appointment, that President Bola Tinubu had approved N2 billion for the expansion of the Osubi-Warri Airport runway.

While we acknowledged at the time that N2 billion was grossly inadequate to satisfactorily upgrade the Osubi facility, we also urged that it was better than nothing. Keyamo was advised to waste no time activating the presidential approval and mobilizing contractors to execute the project within the approved budget.

Now, as we approach 2025, Minister Keyamo seems preoccupied with other projects across the country, leaving the expansion of Osubi Airport in limbo. Is it not shameful that Keyamo has failed to fulfill his promise of upgrading the Osubi runway?

Osubi Airport is the only airport he uses when traveling to his Effurun GRA home in Delta State. He has no reason to hesitate in ensuring the runway expansion is done. If he doesn’t do it, who else does he expect to take on the responsibility?

I have consistently raised this issue over time. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori hails from Osubi, while Keyamo is from neighboring Effurun—just a few minutes' drive apart. Both of them have the opportunity to collaborate and deliver the much-needed upgrade of the Osubi tarmac and runway.

History will not forgive them if they fail to do what is expected of them.

Zik Gbemre

December 23, 2024

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