29 December, 2012

AZAZI’S FUNERAL: GOVERNORS, MINISTERS, OTHER VIPS SHUN HELICOPTERS AT AIRPORT


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

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...