A former Governor of Rivers State has opened up on the two seized controversial helicopters by the Nigerian Customs.
Jonathan and Amaechi
Speaking in an exclusive interview with newsmen on Saturday, the
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, blamed former President
Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Nyesom Wike for the inability of the
state to take possession of the two seized controversial helicopters.
Recall that news made major headlines last week that the two
helicopters were seized by the Nigeria Customs Service and handed over
to the Nigerian Air Force.
The former Governor of Rivers State, Amaechi, said that the two
helicopters were brought into the country by Amaechi, adding that
“outrageous import imposed on the two helicopters delayed their
clearance” by the state government.
According to Punch, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja on
Sunday, said that the state government under his leadership decided to
import the armoured helicopters to fight criminals, who he said, were
masquerading as militants, kidnappers and criminals while he held sway
as the governor of Rivers State.
The statement added, “With a strong political will to tackle
these menace 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, vicious political
cultists etc.
“Sequel to the recommendation of security experts, the Rivers
State Government bought the two Bell 412 security surveillance
helicopters during the administration of Amaechi, in collaboration with
the Federal Government through the office of the National Security
Adviser.”
The ceased helicopters
Amaechi added that the Federal Government then was very impressed
with his 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 $15m, about half of the total sum, towards
the purchase of the helicopters.
“Also, the then former President Goodluck Jonathan
administration granted waivers to the Rivers State Government to
purchase and import the helicopters.”
The minister said, “…The President Goodluck Jonathan
administration frustrated and rebuffed all attempts by Amaechi and the
Rivers State Government to take possession of the helicopters.
“Note that the said helicopters were partly funded by the
Federal Government and that would be operated and managed by the federal
security agencies in collaboration with the Rivers State Government.
“This strange twist was most baffling to the Rivers State
Government. Many would recall that, Amaechi as governor of Rivers State
at different times cried out, spoke loudly about the refusal of the
President Goodluck Jonathan administration to allow the Rivers State
Government takes possession of the security surveillance helicopters.
“It was about security, the safety of lives and properties, but
the Jonathan administration refused and bluntly blocked the Rivers
State Government from taking possession of the helicopters.
“The same helicopters the Federal Government had months back,
partly funded and had granted approvals and waivers for the purchase and
importation into the country.”
Amaechi said that it was obvious why the Jonathan administration acted the way it did, adding that
“Wike was an integral part, a major player in the whole conspiracy to
block and prevent Rivers State government from taking possession of the
helicopters.”
He said that then, as a minister in President Jonathan’s cabinet,
Wike inundated President Jonathan with lies and fake stories of how he
(Amaechi) wanted to use the helicopters for Presidential campaigns
against Jonathan.
He said, “The lies include 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 government 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, he didn’t care about the security of
lives and property, his grand plot was to use the criminals, political
cultists and criminal militants to harass, intimidate terrorise, maim
and even kill his political opponents and those that refuse to support
or vote for him, before and during the elections.
“Wike knew early that he needed these criminal elements to rig
his way to Rivers State Government House, so he did everything to ensure
that these criminals will always be available for him to use.”
The minister said that it was worrisome and indeed pathetic that
Wike as usual, was again playing politics with the safety and security
of Rivers people.
“The helicopters were procured by the Amaechi administration to
curb the wanton menace of criminals in the state(which has since
worsened under Wike’s watch), but in his usual habit, Governor Wike has
decided to abandon and dump the helicopters, because he does not care
about the safety and security of lives and property in the State. Sad,
very sad,” Amaechi added.
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