Angry reactions have trailed the naming of two International Airports after the outgoing Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Ebonyi and Yobe states respectively.
While Buhari inaugurated the International Cargo Airport named after him in Damaturu, Yobe State North-East, Nigeria on Monday, which was built by Governor Mai Mala Buni, his Ebonyi counterpart, David Umahi, had also named newly completed Ebonyi International Airport after Buhari.
Although the airport in Ebonyi is going to be inaugurated on a later date before May 29, 2023, it has secured the Federal Government’s approval for test flight.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umahi on Aviation and Technology, Mrs Obianuju Alo, announced that the state secured an approval from the Federal Government to carry out an inaugural test fight at the new International Airport, Onueke.
According to her, the inauguration would boost economic activities in the state, especially at the location of the Airport.
Buhari had while inaugurating Yobe International Cargo Airport named after him on Monday, commended Governor Buni, for providing the Cargo Airport for the people of North-East region of Nigeria.
Reacting to the naming of Buhari after two international airports in Nigeria, Nigerian twitter users lashed on Governor Umahi and his likes as sycophants.
Former Nigerian lawmaker, Shehu Sani, while lambasting Governor Umahi for such decision to name the airport after Buhari, said "It’s immoral and sycophantic to name two Airports in the country after Buhari."
Although, he commended Umahi for the construction of the airport, Senator Sani, however, said the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum should have named the airport after Chinua Achebe, the great novelist; Emeka Anyaokwu, former Secretary of the Commonwealth Nations'; Victoria Ironsi or late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu himself.
The former Senator who took to his Twitter handle to berate the governor, wrote: "The Construction of Ebonyi Airport is commendable. Kudos. But It’s immoral & sycophantic to name two Airports in the country after Buhari. He should respectfully decline it.
"The Airport should rather be named after Chinua Achebe, Emeka Anyaokwu, Victoria Ironsi or the Ikemba himself."
Another user @Vhee11005639 wrote: "APC is the most divisive and biased party. They don't care about anybody or anything."
@Skappy_eth queried the benefit in naming two airports after one man in a country.
"I don’t know of what benefits to name two airports in the country after the president. I just think that this is eye service to get appointments from the Apc government."
@vakorah vowed not to use any airport named after Muhammadu Buhari, describing the Nigerian President as the most wicked man ever lived.
He wrote: "I will never use any airport named after Buhari who has made Nigerians to go through pains. @MBuhari is the must wicked man on the planet and it will never be well with him."
@shehu_mahdi suggested that the airport should be named after Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State Ari. According to him, "Better If named after the current Inec chairman or Adamawa REC on the run and in hiding or in the name Tunibu so that it will look all together LOVELY".
@marcaronified wrote: "Can't you be an opposition in Nigeria without pandering to the mob and be divisive?"Opposition in Nigeria is simply "If I don't get in, let's scatter and divide everything".. Divisive and destructive opposition, and extorting the division of Nigeria just to be relevant!"
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