Edo Airline: A Vision Beyond Noise and Political Grudges
By any fair standard, governance should be judged by outcomes, not by the bitterness of political opponents. Yet in Edo State today, every progressive step taken by the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is greeted by predictable outrage from an opposition that seems uncomfortable with progress it did not initiate.
The announcement of Edo Airline has once again exposed this reflexive resistance to development. Rather than engage the idea constructively, critics rushed to dismiss it as unnecessary, elitist, or wasteful without bothering to understand the framework, scope, or long-term value of the project. This pattern is familiar: condemn first, ask questions never.
Ironically, many of those shouting the loudest are regular users of air transport. They experience flight delays, limited routes, and high ticket costs firsthand, yet pretend not to understand why a state-backed airline can be a strategic economic tool. Aviation is not a luxury; it is an enabler of commerce, tourism, investment, and regional integration. States that understand this are positioning themselves ahead of the curve.
Governor Okpebholo’s approach is simple but deliberate: revive dormant sectors, expand opportunities, and modernize Edo State’s economic architecture. The successful revival of Edo Line Transport already proves that government intervention, when done transparently and efficiently, can restore public confidence in public services. Edo Airline is a natural extension of that vision, not a replacement for road construction or school renovation, but a complement to them.
Across Nigeria, state-owned airlines such as Ibom Air, Cally Air, and Enugu Air were welcomed as bold and forward thinking initiatives. They were celebrated as signs of visionary leadership. Why then should Edo State be denied the same optimism? Why must progress be applauded in other states but demonized at home? The answer lies not in policy, but in politics driven by resentment.
Edo State has historical relevance in Nigeria’s aviation story. Reigniting that legacy is not an act of vanity; it is a strategic move to reclaim relevance in a competitive national economy. Governor Okpebholo is not experimenting blindly, he is building on precedent, learning from existing models, and adapting them to Edo’s unique context.
What unsettles the opposition is not the airline itself, but the reality that a governor they underestimated is delivering tangible ideas that resonate with the people. The old comfort of low expectations has been disrupted. Edo people are beginning to see governance that dares to think beyond survival and into growth.
Development does not thrive in cynicism. It thrives in vision, courage, and execution. Edo Airline represents more than aircraft and routes; it represents confidence in the future of Edo State.
While critics cling to outdated narratives and narrow thinking, Edo State is clearly moving forward. And as history has shown, progress does not wait for applause, it simply takes off.
Edo is shining and rising. The vision is clear. The journey has begun.
Dr Wellington Osadolor OD MNOA 5
Writes from Benin City.
