An airborne OAS Helicopter conveying Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole to Awka, Anambra State was today recalled and grounded by the Nigerian Aviation Management Agency (NAMA).
Oshiomhole was primed to attend the funeral service of late Mrs. Colette Obi, wife of Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Ben Obi, when the incident occurred.
Pilot of the helicopter, Captain James Manahash expressed shock at being recalled after taking-off from Government House, having earlier communicated with the control tower on radio.
“We were already airborne when we got the call to return to the airport and was even threatened that failure to do so would lead to complete grounding of the aircraft,” Manahash said afterwards.
“The governor prevailed on me to return and listen to them. When we got back to the airport, I was told to pay landing and aerodrome fees, which ordinary we could pay later because we were already airborne.”
According to the pilot, the aircraft was still delayed for another 75 minutes after all payments had been completed.
“I am surprised by this development because this is not the first time I would be coming to Benin to fly the governor,” he added. “I was even threatened, after payment, that the aircraft will be grounded completely if I argued with them. I have flown for 35 years, seven of which I spent in Nigeria and this is the first time I am encountering a situation like this. I do not know what problem they have with the governor.”
When contacted, Managing Director of OAS Helicopters, Mr Everest Nnaji expressed shock on the development, saying that he was still making calls to unravel the circumstances of the grounding.
“I am really angry,” he said. “I don’t know why they did that and that is why I am still trying to make contact because we have no problems with NAMA.”
Obviously very angry, Governor Oshiomhole declined to comment on the situation, instead entering his official car for a ride to Iyamho. But his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, spoke.
“I think the government of the day is competing with too many crises and it is disturbing that governors are no longer respected or recognized even in their own domain when it is known that they were duly elected by the people,” Afegbua said.
“How else do you explain the role of a NAMA clerk who grounded the governor’s aircraft and prevented him from keeping his appointment in Anambra State because he is acting out a script that has become the rule of engagement by a dictatorial PDP regime? We remain unprovoked because we are civilized people.”
Like Oshiomhole, Airspace Atom of NAMA, Mr Okolie declined to comment, simply saying, “I don’t have anything for you.”
