In a subtle manner, the Federal government on Thursday deployed its ‘might’ to prevent Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Adams Oshiomhole, of All Progressives Congress (APC) from attending the grand rally for Governor Kayode Fayemi, in Ado-Ekiti, ahead of June 21 governorship election in the State.
It will be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had earlier directed that all entry points to Ekiti State be closed 48 hours to the governorship election holding on Saturday.
It was gathered that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was grounded at a village called Olorunsogo in Ondo State enroute Ado-Ekiti.
The soldiers who stopped him from proceeding on the journey were said to be acting on the instructions of the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro not to allow Amaechi to enter Ado-Ekiti.
But, when contacted, Obanikoro, told The Eagle Online that there was no such directives from his office.
In a related development, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, was also barred from flying out of Benin Airport to attend the mega rally in Ado-Ekiti, in solidarity with his colleague, Governor Kayode Fayemi.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Okhira, the helicopter chartered by the governor was barred from flying by the Commander of the 81 Air Maritime Group, Benin City, Air Commodore Soji Awomodu, attributing the instruction to “a cal from above” that no private jet or helicopter be allowed to fly out of Benin to either Akure or Ekiti.
This is the second time in a year that Oshiomhole would be grounded from flying out of Benin Airport, having been recalled mid-air on June 7, 2013.
However, a source at the 81 Air Maritime Group who pleaded anonymity said the decision to ground Oshihomole’s helicopter was purely a military affair.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Oshiomhole reads further, “The Governor who was billed to attend a mass rally organized to round-off the re-election campaigns of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, was left stranded at the Benin Airport for two hours before Air Commodore Awomodu delivered the message “from above”.
“Oshiomhole expressed shock at the development as other APC Governors and party leaders were allowed to fly to Ekiti. He however declined to speak with reporters.
“The Airport Manager, Mr. Sunday Ayodele and the Airspace Manager, Mr Ibekwe said they had no hands in the Governor’s ordeal as they had no directive to that effect.
“The helicopter with registration number 5NBQ8 later flew out of the Benin Airport at 1:20pm without its intended passengers.
“Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Prince Kassim Afegbua confirmed the incident and described it as strange.
“It will be recalled that on June 7, 2013, an OAS Helicopter ferrying the Edo State Governor to Awka, Anambra State, was recalled mid-air and grounded by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
“The Filipino Pilot of the OAS chopper, Captain James Manahash, had said at the time “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. The governor prevailed on me to return and listen to them.”
Also, the APC national headquarters has reacted to the development. A statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday reads, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that its Governors are being prevented by security agencies apparently acting on ”orders from above” from travelling to Ado-Ekiti for the party’s final campaign on Friday for the Ekiti State Governorship election on Friday.
The party said at least three Governors – Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and
Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano – have so far been prevented from making the trip.
It said the helicopter that was to ferry Gov. Oshiomhole from Benin to Ado-Ekiti was refused permission to take off from the Benin Airport, while the plane that was flying Gov. Kwankwanso to Akure was denied permission to land.
According to the APC, while the plane carrying Gov. Amaechi actually landed in Akure, his convoy was stopped at the border between Ondo and Ekiti States and ordered to turn back, because he would not be allowed to reach Ado-Ekiti.
The party said while Gov. Amaechi’s convoy was being detained in order to force him to turn back, the convoys of the Ministers of Defence and Police Affairs came and were allowed to pass.
”These acts are illegal and definitely not in line with the Electoral Act, which stipulates that campaign for the election will only end at midnight on Friday.
”It also represents a manipulation of the electoral process when all the candidates will not be allowed a level playing field to campaign for the election. There is no clearer manifestation of the federal
government’s allergy to free, fair, transparent and violence-free election than this,” the party said.
It condemned in the strongest terms the abuse of national institutions and the abuse of power which these actions represent, especially because only the Federal Government has control over these
institutions, including the security agencies that have now become a tool in the hands of an increasingly-desperate government of the day. ”Several months ago, we warned that Nigeria under the watch of
President Goodluck Jonathan was sliding into fascism and we were pilloried in certain quarters for daring to make such a statement. Today, we have sadly been vindicated.
”Not even in the worst days of the abhorrent military dictatorship were things done this brazenly, with citizens being denied their fundamental rights of free movement, free assembly and free expression, all because of the desperation by the ruling party to win elections at all costs.
”We therefore call on all good people of Nigeria and indeed all the country’s international friends to speak out against what is happening before things get out of hand. If democratically-elected Governors
could be so shabbily treated, despite the high office they occupy, what will happen to ordinary Nigerians in the hands of an increasingly-fascist government?” APC queried
Source : The Eagleonline
It will be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had earlier directed that all entry points to Ekiti State be closed 48 hours to the governorship election holding on Saturday.
It was gathered that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was grounded at a village called Olorunsogo in Ondo State enroute Ado-Ekiti.
The soldiers who stopped him from proceeding on the journey were said to be acting on the instructions of the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro not to allow Amaechi to enter Ado-Ekiti.
But, when contacted, Obanikoro, told The Eagle Online that there was no such directives from his office.
In a related development, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, was also barred from flying out of Benin Airport to attend the mega rally in Ado-Ekiti, in solidarity with his colleague, Governor Kayode Fayemi.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Okhira, the helicopter chartered by the governor was barred from flying by the Commander of the 81 Air Maritime Group, Benin City, Air Commodore Soji Awomodu, attributing the instruction to “a cal from above” that no private jet or helicopter be allowed to fly out of Benin to either Akure or Ekiti.
This is the second time in a year that Oshiomhole would be grounded from flying out of Benin Airport, having been recalled mid-air on June 7, 2013.
However, a source at the 81 Air Maritime Group who pleaded anonymity said the decision to ground Oshihomole’s helicopter was purely a military affair.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Oshiomhole reads further, “The Governor who was billed to attend a mass rally organized to round-off the re-election campaigns of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, was left stranded at the Benin Airport for two hours before Air Commodore Awomodu delivered the message “from above”.
“Oshiomhole expressed shock at the development as other APC Governors and party leaders were allowed to fly to Ekiti. He however declined to speak with reporters.
“The Airport Manager, Mr. Sunday Ayodele and the Airspace Manager, Mr Ibekwe said they had no hands in the Governor’s ordeal as they had no directive to that effect.
“The helicopter with registration number 5NBQ8 later flew out of the Benin Airport at 1:20pm without its intended passengers.
“Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Prince Kassim Afegbua confirmed the incident and described it as strange.
“It will be recalled that on June 7, 2013, an OAS Helicopter ferrying the Edo State Governor to Awka, Anambra State, was recalled mid-air and grounded by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
“The Filipino Pilot of the OAS chopper, Captain James Manahash, had said at the time “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. The governor prevailed on me to return and listen to them.”
Also, the APC national headquarters has reacted to the development. A statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday reads, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that its Governors are being prevented by security agencies apparently acting on ”orders from above” from travelling to Ado-Ekiti for the party’s final campaign on Friday for the Ekiti State Governorship election on Friday.
The party said at least three Governors – Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and
Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano – have so far been prevented from making the trip.
It said the helicopter that was to ferry Gov. Oshiomhole from Benin to Ado-Ekiti was refused permission to take off from the Benin Airport, while the plane that was flying Gov. Kwankwanso to Akure was denied permission to land.
According to the APC, while the plane carrying Gov. Amaechi actually landed in Akure, his convoy was stopped at the border between Ondo and Ekiti States and ordered to turn back, because he would not be allowed to reach Ado-Ekiti.
The party said while Gov. Amaechi’s convoy was being detained in order to force him to turn back, the convoys of the Ministers of Defence and Police Affairs came and were allowed to pass.
”These acts are illegal and definitely not in line with the Electoral Act, which stipulates that campaign for the election will only end at midnight on Friday.
”It also represents a manipulation of the electoral process when all the candidates will not be allowed a level playing field to campaign for the election. There is no clearer manifestation of the federal
government’s allergy to free, fair, transparent and violence-free election than this,” the party said.
It condemned in the strongest terms the abuse of national institutions and the abuse of power which these actions represent, especially because only the Federal Government has control over these
institutions, including the security agencies that have now become a tool in the hands of an increasingly-desperate government of the day. ”Several months ago, we warned that Nigeria under the watch of
President Goodluck Jonathan was sliding into fascism and we were pilloried in certain quarters for daring to make such a statement. Today, we have sadly been vindicated.
”Not even in the worst days of the abhorrent military dictatorship were things done this brazenly, with citizens being denied their fundamental rights of free movement, free assembly and free expression, all because of the desperation by the ruling party to win elections at all costs.
”We therefore call on all good people of Nigeria and indeed all the country’s international friends to speak out against what is happening before things get out of hand. If democratically-elected Governors
could be so shabbily treated, despite the high office they occupy, what will happen to ordinary Nigerians in the hands of an increasingly-fascist government?” APC queried
Source : The Eagleonline
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