Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi opened up, yesterday, on intrigues behind the two helicopters seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
In a statement from his media’s office, Amaechi explained how his administration was unable to take possession because former President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, frustrated his administration from taking possession of the helicopters.
Amaechi said this was even after the former president’s adinistration released $15 million counterpart funding to procure the two helicopters valued at $30 million.
The minister, however, admitted that the helicopters were ordered by his administration when he was Rivers governor.
Amaechi, who stated this in a statement yesterday, explained that he ordered for the helicopters to tackle kidnapping and militancy in the state.
The former governor’s response is coming a day after Wike washed his hands off its procurement but also, admitted he made series of requests for their release, after they were abandoned at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, when he assumed office.
The minister’s media office said: “When Amaechi took over as governor, criminals, masquerading as militants, kidnappers and all other criminal elements were on the prowl in the state. With a strong political will to tackle these menaces and make the state a safe place, Amaechi initiated a lot of measures to deal with the menace. Purchasing these helicopters was one of the measures the Amaechi administration took to curb the clandestine and criminal activities in the state. And, the decision to go for these helicopters was based on the advice and recommendation of security experts and specialists that were working closely with our Nigerian security agents to rid the state of these criminals- kidnappers, pipeline vandals and vicious political cultists.
“Sequel to the recommendation of security experts, the Rivers State Government bought the two Bell 412 security surveillance helicopters, in collaboration with the Federal Government, through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
“The federal government, then, was very impressed with Amaechi administration’s security plan to curb criminality in the state and supported the plan all the way. To show their support, the federal government, through the office of the NSA contributed $15 million about half of the total sum, towards the purchase of the helicopters. Also, Jonathan’s administration granted waivers to Rivers to purchase and import the helicopters. However, trouble started many months later, when the helicopters became ready for state government to take possession. Jonathan’s administration frustrated and rebuffed all attempts by Amaechi and the state government to take possession of the helicopters.
“It was obvious why Jonathan’s administration acted the way it did and Wike, the current governor of Rivers State was an integral part, a major player in the whole conspiracy to block and prevent the state government from taking possession of the helicopters.
“Then, as a minister in Jonathan’s cabinet, Wike inundated the president with lies and fake stories of how Amaechi wanted to use the helicopters for presidential campaigns against Jonathan, how Amaechi will use the helicopters to support President Jonathan’s opponents before and during the presidential elections and all sorts of concocted tales that created a false impression that the Amaechi administration in Rivers State would use the helicopters against and to fight President Jonathan, and not to secure lives and property.
“Wike, then, was already nursing the ambition to run for the office of governor of Rivers State…”
Regardless, Wike, in response to Amaechi’s statement, dismissed his defence as “totally false, baseless and unfounded as the documents regarding the communication between the Rivers State Government and the relevant federal agencies on the said helicopters are in the public domain.”
Wike, in a statement from Government House, yesterday night, insisted he had no reason to interfere with the acquisition of the helicopters and so, could not have stopped their release when they landed in Nigeria.
“From the statement released by the former Rivers State governor, the Jonathan administration, through the NSA, paid $15 million, which was half of the cost of the two armoured helicopters.
“At no point in the entire transaction did Wike interfere with the process of the acquisition of the helicopters.
“He had no reason to stop a process for which the then Jonathan administration committed $15 million as admitted by Mr. Amaechi, a politician who is notorious for his obsession for falsehood.
“Despite the former governor’s refusal to formally hand over, Wike embarked on due diligence, discovered the transaction and followed up in the interest of Rivers State and the security of the people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers state government, under the leadership of Wike, took proactive steps to clear the helicopters for security purposes, but, the concerned federal agencies deliberately blocked the state government.
“As a result of the commitment of the governor to the security of lives and property devoid of partisan politics, he applied to the president, for the two Bell 412 helicopters to be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force for custody and management.
“This patriotic request was approved by the NSA vide a letter dated November 3, 2016 and signed on behalf of the NSA by Brigadier General A. T. Famadewa.
“Despite the documentary approval by the NSA for the transfer of the helicopters to the Air Force, it was shocking that the NCS had to stage a drama that the helicopters were imported by unknown persons and that the service had resolved to transfer same to the Nigerian Air Force.”
“Amaechi’s statement filled with bitterness, lies and political blackmail is a proof that he was behind this crime against the people of Rivers State. It is sad that Amaechi would take his hatred for the people of River to the level of masterminding the diversion of the helicopters…”
paid for with Rivers funds, which he now wants to be used in other states.
That the security helicopters were hijacked by the Nigerian Customs Service at a facility under the control of the failed former governor shows the level he is ready to go as regards the politicisation of security with a view to attaining unpatriotic goals.
Since Mr Amaechi left office in 2015, he has been sponsoring crime and criminality in Rivers State with a view to creating the environment for the declaration of State of Emergency on Rivers State. However, he has continued to fail because the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is always ahead of him through the initiation and sustenance of a sound security architecture.
Despite the fact that the former governor’s press release was filled with falsehood, one point has been established. The two Bell 412 Helicopters belong to the Rivers State Government. The drama staged by the Nigerian Custom Service and the Nigerian Air Force was therefore unnecessary and unpatriotic .
