The Ebonyi State government has fired back at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over its criticism of the recent inauguration of the Chuba Okadigbo Airport runway by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria.
PDP, through a statement issued by Moses Idika, spokesperson for its 2023 gubernatorial candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, had labelled the N20 billion spent on the airport’s runway rehabilitation as a “waste of resources.”
However, in a swift rebuttal, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, dismissed PDP’s claims as baseless and accused the opposition of undermining the state’s developmental progress.
“The idea of overcoming structural impediments to ensure flight operations commence at the airport is a progressive step,” Okpor stated. “Abandoning such a monumental project would have been a disservice to the people of Ebonyi.”
The commissioner emphasised that Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration is committed to completing inherited projects to attract business opportunities and global investments to the state.
“The commissioning of the runway by Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is not only befitting but also a strategic move to open Ebonyi State to the global community,” he added.
Okpor also dismissed PDP’s assertions regarding the state’s debt profile, calling their data “unverifiable.”
He highlighted Governor Nwifuru’s refusal to take on new loans since assuming office, noting that the administration has prioritised budget transparency and fiscal discipline.
“It is incoherent to attribute the state’s debt profile to this administration, especially given its refusal to bow to enticing loan offers,” Okpor said.
He further cited a 2023 report by BudgiT, a global budget-tracking organisation, which lauded Ebonyi State’s financial management.
Okpor accused the opposition of wishing for the airport project to fail, describing their criticism as a reflection of “bitter incoherence.” He reassured the public that the administration would unveil its aviation sector plans soon.
“In no distant time, when the state government unveils its aviation strategy, the PDP’s criticisms will fade into irrelevance,” Okpor declared.
The Ebonyi government maintains that the Chuba Okadigbo Airport is a critical infrastructure project aimed at unlocking the state’s economic potential.
Ebonyi Govt slams PDP over criticism of airport runway inauguration