A motion to investigate the grounding of Rivers State Government’s Aircraft by federal aviation authorities has been moved in Nigeria’s House of Representatatives. Hon. Ahmed Idris representing Wase Federal Constituency Plateau State who moved the motion urged the House “To mandate the House Committees on Justice and Aviation, as a matter of urgency, to extensively investigate the justification and circumstances surrounding the grounding of Rivers State aircraft and report back to the House within two weeks
Titled: “Motion On The Urgent Need To Investigate The Justification For And Circumstance Surrounding The Controversial Grounding Of Rivers State Government Bombardier B700 Global Express “, Idris said “ The House:
“Worried that impunity, lawlessness and political vendetta is now the order of the day in a 21st century democratic Nigeria.
“Notesthat a bombardier BD 700 Global Express aircraft with registration number 5N565RS belonging to Rivers State Government, which conveyed the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Rivers State and other Government officials from Owerri to Akure, was grounded by National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in controversial circumstances at Akure Airport on Friday 26th April with a request that the entourage should contact either Hon. Minister of Aviation or Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) for clearance as the only condition for the aircraft to be allowed to fly.
“Further notes that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) subsequently issued a statement giving a different reason why the aircraft has been permanently grounded..
“Aware that there was an attempt to ground the aircraft at Owerri airport on the orders of the Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) for a different reason.
“Worried that three different reasons have been adduced for the controversial grounding of the Rivers State Government aircraft.
“Further worried that Rivers State Government has described the reasons adduced by Agencies controlled by the Presidency as opportunistic and alleges political vindictiveness as the sole reason behind the controversial grounding of the aircraft.
“Concerned that, this incident raises serious as to the abuse of powers by the executive and the use of state machinery to witch-hunt perceived political opponents which is extremely dangerous and detrimental to any democracy and tends towards dictatorship and draconian tendencies typical of the military era.
“Resolves: To mandate the House Committees on Justice and Aviation, as a matter of urgency, to extensively investigate the justification and circumstances surrounding the grounding of Rivers State aircraft and report back to the House within two weeks.”
