FG Stops Aircraft Conveying Lawmakers To Rivers State

A chartered flight scheduled to convey about 12 federal lawmakers from Abuja to Port Harcourt was yesterday grounded at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

The lawmakers, some of whom are representing Rivers State were bared from flying due to “instruction from the aviation authority”.

They were to fly on Manga Airline.

A source from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said the aircraft was grounded due to political reason. Another source said the action was taken due to poor documentation and issues relating to the passengers’ manifest.

Two Senators and 10 members of the House of Representatives were traveling on a solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi who was expecting the Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers Southeast Federal Constituency and Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke representing Omumu/Etche Federal Constituency said the private charter operator suddenly acted on orders from ‘the top’ not to fly the aircraft.

They described the action as politically motivated.

Nwuke said: “Some members of the House of Representatives and senators who are from Rivers state traveling to Port Harcourt this morning (yesterday) got a shock of their lives.

“An aircraft (Manga) that we chattered to take us to Port Harcourt was suddenly grounded and we feel it is politically motivated because the APC people were supposed to come to Rivers and some of us decided to go and listen to what they wanted to say. So, the aircraft that was supposed to take us was suddenly grounded by some orders from above. And we are beginning to wonder why all of this is happening in the country that is in a democracy.

“The aircraft owners said they have orders from above not to fly anywhere. We had wanted to get in there as quickly as we could and join our governor to receive the visitors.

“I think that what is going on now has become increasingly undemocratic and increasingly very embarrassing. Freedom of expression and movement is under attack. I don’t think we should encourage a return to the days of the military when people embarked on unilateral actions just like that.

Senator Abe added that the incident amounted to impunity.

He explained that every necessary arrangements had been made with the operator before the sudden development.

He said he had reported the issue to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who promised to look into it.

“In fact, we had arranged an aircraft to take us from Abuja to Port Harcourt to enable us join other Rivers people to receive the visiting delegation of Nigerians that are coming to visit the governor today and we received information that the owners of the aircraft had called to say that they had instructions from above not to take off. So, we are stranded here at the Airport, struggling to make other arrangements.

“I think with what has happened, my fear is that this country may be worse than a banana republic if we don’t do something. Because the people who now think that the laws of Nigeria exist only for them to use it to further what personal purposes they may have, is not for the benefit of all Nigerians equally and that is always a dangerous signal in a democracy.

“I have called Senator Hope Uzodinma who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, he said he will look into it,” Abe said.

Asked if the incident had to do with the crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, Abe said the development had affinity with their involvement in the new PDP.

“Of course, it is the reason and people fail to understand that the constitution of this country guarantees freedom of movement, guarantees freedom of association and that people are free to talk to one another.

“I have said before and want to repeat it here that if we are talking of a national dialogue, you cannot talk of a national dialogue in an atmosphere of intimation. Nigerians must not only be allowed, but indeed, they must be encouraged to talk to one another in the spirit of trying to create a united country,” he added.

An official of FAAN, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the situation was outside the purview of the authority.

Though he acknowledged that the aircraft was grounded, he said.

“Yes, their aircraft was grounded but FAAN has nothing to do with grounding of aircraft,” he said.

“They were grounded because of documentation and issues relating to manifest of the passengers,” the source said.

Information from a reliable source also stated that the aircraft was grounded because of political reasons.

The source added that officials of the All Progressive Party (APC) were aboard the flight to Port Harcourt to attend a political meeting in Rivers State.

“It seems the aircraft was to transport APC officials to Port Harcourt”

But in an sms yesterday, the coordinating spokesman of Aviation agencies, Mr Yakubu Dati said :” No plane has been grounded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport , Abuja today as mischievously being circulated.”