Scores of very important personalities (VIPs) attending the
funeral ceremonies for the immediate past National Security Adviser
(NSA),General Andrew Azazi (rtd), in Yenagoa this weekend have been
avoiding travelling to the venue by helicopter.
Azazi, the then Governor Patrick
Yakowa of Kaduna State and four others died on Saturday, December 15 when
the Nigerian Navy Augusta helicopter conveying them from Okoroba,Bayelsa State
to Port Harcourt crashed minutes after take-off.
They had attended the burial of
Pa Tamunoobebara Douglas, father of the Presidential Special Adviser on
Research and Documentation, Mr.Oronto Douglas, in the largely riverine state.
Azazi is to be laid to rest today at
the Ijaw Heroes Park in Yenagoa.
However, mourners, including
Governors Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and Emmanuel Uduaghan of
Delta State; Aviation Minister Stella Oduah and others who arrived Port
Harcourt Airport en-route Yenagoa for last night’s service of songs
for the deceased shunned helicopters and opted to travel to
the Bayelsa State capital by road.
Sources at the Port Harcourt
Airport told The Nation on Saturday that on arrival
from Lagos and Abuja,the VIPs all moved into the VIP Lounge, while
arrangements were being made for them to be airlifted to Yenagoa by helicopters.
But to the surprise of all the
VIPs,one after the other, called their aides and instructed them to make
provision for them to move to Yenagoa by road.
Efforts by the aides to
convince their bosses that well-serviced and safe helicopters were available
for the short journey and that the East-West road currently being
dualised is not in a particularly good shape were to no avail.
It was, however, learnt that
the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, flew in one of the choppers to Yenagoa
from Port Harcourt on arrival from Abuja.
Mr.Daniel Iworiso,the Chief
Press Secretary to Governor Dickson confirmed that his principal
travelled by road from Port Harcourt to Yenagoa.
Iworiso said: “Governor Dickson flew
from Abuja to Port Harcourt International Airport and moved to
Yenagoa by road between 9 am and 10 am.
“Governor Dickson’s convoy was
already waiting at Port Harcourt International Airport. He left the airport
before other VIPs arrived from Abuja and other places.
“Governor Dickson can decide to
travel by road from Port Harcourt International Airport or use helicopter. It
has nothing to do with fear.”
Governor Uduaghan’s Chief Press
Secretary, Mr.Sunny Ogefere, also confirmed that his boss went by road to
Yenagoa from Port Harcourt,saying going by helicopter was
not on the governor’s schedule.
“There was really nothing to it.If
going by helicopter was scheduled,His Excellency would have gone by
helicopter,” Ogefere said.
Source: The Nation
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