Presidency worries over govs’ demand on crash probe (is there something to hide?)

Posted by admin Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), Presidency Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

he Presidency is worried
by Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s insistence on playing a role in the
investigation into Saturday’s helicopter crash which claimed the lives
of Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa and former National Security
Adviser Andrew Azazi in Bayelsa State, investigations have revealed.

The NGF, in a communique
after its emergency meeting in Abuja on Monday, apart from demanding a
role in the probe into the crash also resolved to hire the services of a
consultant to be part of the investigation.

A presidential source,
who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity on Tuesday,
said the Presidency was not comfortable with the demand.

The source said the Presidency felt that the demand was capable of eroding peoples’ confidence in the government.

He said, “The thinking within the Presidential Villa is that the governors are not helping the Federal Government.

“The Presidency is of
the opinion that the governors are even inciting Nigerians against the
Federal Government and asking them not to have faith in what we do as a
country.

“I must tell you that
the Presidency felt betrayed by the statement and I think the President
would say so anytime he meets with the governors.

“The import of the
statement, according to government thinking, is that if the governors
can’t believe in what the Federal Government does, how can ordinary
Nigerians do?”

Asked if the Federal
Government would accede to the demand of the governors, the source said
the Presidency was in a dilemma over the issue.

The source said, “If the
Federal Government says no, it may be interpreted to mean that it has
something to hide. If it says yes, it may also anger the military, whose
helicopter crashed.”

The governors had called for thorough investigation and openness into the air crash.

The communiqué of the meeting was read by the Chairman of the NGF, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

It said, “The forum
further resolved to engage a consultant to participate in the
investigation process or serve as an observer.”

The governors pledged
their support for directive of the President for a thorough
investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the helicopter
crash.

The meeting was attended
by the governors of Imo, Abia, Ogun, Anambra, Adamawa, Rivers, Kogi,
Ondo, Kebbi, Yobe, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, Edo, and Plateau states.

The governors of Enugu, Bauchi and Nasarawa States were represented by their deputies.

Efforts to get the reaction of
presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, did not yield result as he did not
answer the several calls put through to his mobile telephone.

-Punchwp_posts