Why I need a new aircraft –Amaechi

Posted by admin General Politics, Latest Politics, Rivers, State News Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

RIVERS State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has said he requested an approval for a new aircraft from the State House of Assembly because the small size of the old plane is not compliant with the current climatic conditions, and flying in it is dangerous.

The governor, who spoke during a phone-in radio programme in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said since the old aircraft was struck by lightning, it had become unsafe for use.

The Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, had accused the Amaechi administration of corruption as a result of the request for a new aircraft.

Amaechi said, “We are not just buying a new plane, we are trading in the old one for something new and I don’t see anything wrong with that.

“If you look at the size of the plane and the current climatic conditions when you fly, you will see how dangerous it is for us to fly in that small plane. We are not even buying a very large plane; we are trading it for an improved version.

“Out of three, we have sold one to Cross River State at $9m and we are using the money to build a minimum of 10 primary schools. I didn’t see the need to have two aircraft flying the governor. That’s why we sold one.”

The governor argued that he could not risk his life flying on the plan because of allegations by Sekibo.

He said, “I wouldn’t risk my life because I’m trying to listen to an Abiye Sekibo who is accusing you of corruption if you buy a plane. That’s a wrong statement. I will not lead a corrupt government.”

On internally generated revenue, he noted that contrary to Sekibo’s claims that the state had spent N1tn so far, the state only got N45bn in July.

“That is because from January to June, the Federal Government was paying us half of our funds so they paid us the arrears,” he said.

-Punchwp_posts