Keyamo: Tinubu interested in Abia airport because he loves Otti

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, says President Bola Tinubu recommended the construction of airport in Abia because he loves Alex Otti, governor of the state.

Keyamo spoke on Tuesday at the flag-off ceremony of the Abia International Airport in the Nsulu area of the state.

In 2022, Otti left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Labour Party (LP).

Keyamo said Tinubu recommended the construction of the airport as part of his agenda to develop the south-east.

“We held federal executive council (FEC) meeting yesterday, and when I told him I was coming, he was very glad to dispatch me to this occasion,” the minister said.

“It was shortly after we took office, and I was briefing the president about the aviation sector that the president asked me why Abia does not have at least an airstrip.

“He told me he doesn’t want any part of this country to be cheated, and in the south-east, it is only in Abia state that you cannot land an aircraft. He said we should make sure in the 2024 budget we give Abia an airstrip.”

Keyamo also said the president’s motivation is propelled by his love for the governor.

“The president’s motivation was also the fact that, whether you like it or not, he loves the governor of this state. He loves his spirits,” he said.

“I know comments he has made about the governor of this state and how much his people here love him so much.

“Today is not a day for politics. He strayed away. He was with us. He strayed away, like the prodigal son, Benjamin Kalu.

“The prodigal son came back home, at least. Let us leave that for another day. He came back.

“When I called Dr. Alex Otti and broke the news to him about an airstrip, he said no. I will partner with you; I will also put in counterpart funding and let us upgrade it to an international airport. This was what happened.

“Because Abia is the heart of industrialisation of the south-east, it doesn’t add up at all that the heart of industrialisation of the south-east doesn’t have an airport, and I can tell you that there are already plans that it is not going to be only a passenger airport but a cargo airport too.”