Oshiomhole: Edo Assembly Demands Apology from NAMA

Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole

By Chinedu Eze

As the controversy between the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, rages over the recall of a chopper that was taking him to Anambra State last Friday by the Air Traffic Controllers, the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Festus Ebea, has said the people of the state were demanding for an apology from the management of the agency for embarrassing the governor.

Speaking with journalists in Benin City, Ebea said it was unfair for the controllers to order the helicopter to detour to the airport, which was not its original destination, noting that the control tower ought to have waited and allowed the aircraft to arrive its destination before taking any action against the pilot.

“It is not proper, knowing that it was a chartered flight carrying the governor; why not wait to deal with the issue later.

“The Government of Edo State demands an apology from the management of NAMA. That was a big embarrassment for the governor and the people of Edo State,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker, who is an aviator, condemned the claim that the governor was delayed for 10 minutes, explaining that the governor was kept for more than one hour.

On why the pilot did not file in his manifest before flying, Ebea said the authority would have allowed the plane to land at its destination since it was within the country before taking the action against the pilot.

“This is a chartered plane; it’s not flying the governor out of the country. Is it the flight plan that will give the aircraft passage? What they would have done is to call Asaba, Delta State and get the pilot arrested and inform the governor reasons of the action.”

Ebea remarked that the action taken by NAMA officials had given room for another political interpretation to be given on the issue, adding that there would have been a proper way of doing it. He stressed that the controllers ought to have gone to the aircraft to tender an apology to the governor.

He lamented that the whole thing was orchestrated by NAMA officials as they made it look as if it was politically-inclined.

Also, the owner of the helicopter, OAS Helicopters, attributed the action to the overzealousness of the controllers and dismissed the allegation that it was a political witch-hunt, noting that if it were so, the chopper would not have been allowed to leave Lagos let alone being given start up to Awka, the capital of Anambra State.

“About the political witch hunt suggestion; I don't really see that here. If anybody had instructed the tower to do so, the aircraft would never have been allowed to depart Lagos in the first place. Or when the pilot informed the tower about his intention to land at the government house, they would have denied him the request,” the company's source said.