Makinde’s Friendship With Wike Should Deliver An Airline Route Between Port Harcourt And Ibadan
The Oasis Reporters
December 16, 2022
By Greg Abolo
@gregabolo
@Theoasisreport1
The deep and enduring friendship between Oyo State governor and the Rivers State governor is often overlooked by political analysts who do not understand how deep it is.
Many people may not know how the ties between the two People’s Democratic Party, PDP governors emanated. Makinde’s clout and the love the people of Oyo State has for him helped him to dislodge the All Progressive Congress, APC, from Oyo State in 2019 and usher in the PDP.
Both mean mourn with each other as well as celebrate each other depending on the situation.
A few days ago, Governor Nyesom Wike was celebrating his 55th birthday. Governor Seyi Makinde celebrated with him.
Happy birthday to my brother and friend, H.E. Nyesom Wike and many happy returns. May God’s blessings and protection abide with you today and always. Enjoy your day! pic.twitter.com/KShihX5CDs
— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) December 13, 2022
Only a few days ago, a private University in Oyo State, Ajayi Crowther University, rolled out honorary doctorate degrees to deserving citizens including Seyi Makinde. They not only doled one out to Lagos State governor, Jide Sanwaolu, but equally awarded one to Barrister Nyesom Wike who had to come in from Port Harcourt to collect his own.
In my remarks at the graduation ceremony, I thanked the management of the University for the honour bestowed on my colleagues and I and congratulated all graduands on the remarkable achievement of getting their doctoral degrees. pic.twitter.com/159IfF3zm2
— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) December 9, 2022
Talk about the fragrance of friendship.
The sweet smell goes beyond politics. Makinde did his compulsory one year National Service (NYSC) in Rivers State, where he eventually became a chieftain in the Crude oil business.
He also married a fellow female engineer from the State, Engr. (Mrs) Tamunominini Makinde who is an indigene of Rivers State.
There will be huge benefits for people of the two states if the two governors attract an airline route to be flying between Ibadan and Port Harcourt. Perhaps with possible hubs in Warri (Delta State) and Calabar (Cross Rivers State). These cities have viable airports.
Just add the Cargo hub alongside and freshwater fish would be landing in Ibadan. Badly needed for the taste of fish is making huge inroads on the palates in Ibadan and environs.
Oyo State is a massive agricultural destination. It could be yams, potatoes, fresh vegetables, fruits, just name it. They’d find a ready market in the South South.
Human traffic would be greatly enhanced. It would be nice to fly above the emerging kidnapping economy being brought in by Nigeria’s violence entrepreneurs that the Federal government seems reluctant to curb decisively.
Rivers State has had very close ties with Oyo State, starting from the days of regionalism. This is why at the nation’s premier citadel of learning, University of Ibadan, you’d hear names like Professors Tekena Tamuno, JP Clark, Allagoa, Tam David-West etc. And by extension, the names of others from the Niger Delta States like Profs BIC Ijeoma, Emovon, Ambrose Alli, Obaro Ikime, Umukoro, Otite Onigu, Alele-Williams, O.F. Onoge, just to name a few who are, were great icons that made the seventy four year old University tick.
Many of them have descendants that have not cut their ties with Oyo State.
Give them an airline route, and the opportunities would be limitless.
You never can tell the number of investors who would find their way to Sweden or Norway and other destinations to import light Electric aeroplanes to deepen traffic on the route and get the economy expanded for the prosperity of the entire South, the Middle Belt and the north.
Makinde and Wike should please put their will to the project as catalysts for new things that would help investors fly-over poverty.
Written by Greg Abolo
gregabolo@gmail.com
