By Peace Erewunmi

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, has questioned the award of the N99.5 billion Ede Airport project by the state government, alleging that the contractor handling the project lacks the necessary experience and technical capacity for such a major infrastructure undertaking.

In a statement issued by the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council, Oyebamiji argued that projects of significant scale and strategic importance should be entrusted to firms with proven competence and a track record in civil engineering and large-scale construction.

According to him, governments seeking to deliver durable and transformative infrastructure must prioritize professionalism, technical expertise, accountability, and value for money in the award of public contracts.

The APC candidate also criticized the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke over what he described as unmet development expectations despite increased revenues available to the state in recent years. He urged greater transparency in the management of public resources and the execution of major projects.

Oyebamiji maintained that infrastructure investments should be carefully planned and implemented to ensure long-term benefits for residents and sustainable economic growth.

The comments come amid growing political debate over the Ede Airport project and other infrastructure initiatives ahead of the Osun State governorship election.

Supporters of Governor Adeleke, however, have previously defended the administration’s infrastructure programme, arguing that projects are being distributed across different parts of the state and are intended to boost economic development, transportation, and investment opportunities. The government has also maintained that ongoing projects are being executed in line with its development agenda.

Political observers note that infrastructure spending and project execution are likely to remain major campaign issues as political parties intensify preparations for the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.

As of the time of filing this report, no new official response had been issued by the Osun State Government specifically addressing Oyebamiji’s latest allegations regarding the contractor’s capacity.