•As Igbo Youths, Kinsmen Move To Save Minister
CHAIRMAN of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Lady Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has faulted calls for the resignation of the Minister of Aviation, princess Stella Oduah for allegedly procuring two BMW armoured cars at public expense.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja, the lawmaker whose committee is probing the issue faulted such calls noting: “For me, she is entitled to fair hearing and of course, you have to get to the bridge before you cross it. It is too early to call for somebody’s resignation because one of the questions we asked was: have they bought the cars; was it appropriated for under any Nigerian law? When that investigation is concluded, then we know who should be asked to resign. So for me, it is too early to just begin to say so.”
Onyejeocha who represents Isuikwuato/umunneochi federal constituency of Abia state disclosed that Oduah who was unavoidably absent due to an official engagement in Israel would be appearing before her committee on Wednesday this week to state her own side of the story on the controversial deal.
But a former acting director general of the NCAA, and currently a director of Aerodrome Services, Mr. Joyce Nkemakonan, while testifying before members of the committee, had maintained that the procurement of the armoured cars was in compliance with laid down rules.
Nkemakonan who oversaw the transaction disclosed that the vehicles were procured under a tripartite leasing arrangement agreed upon by the NCAA, First Bank plc and Coscharis Motors entailing an installment payment for the armoured cars to be spread in 36 months.
Claiming the vehicles were still in the custody of First Bank, he further stated that on April 15, 2013, an official letter was written to the aviation ministry requesting for approval for procurement of the vehicles, adding that the aviation minister subsequently conveyed the approval of the procurement through lease financing.
Meanwhile, activities at the Akanu-Ibiam International Airport, Enugu were temporarily halted yesterday as several Igbo youths under the aegis of Igbo Progressives Union (IPU) embarked on a peaceful protest against calls for the sack of the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah.
Also, kinsmen of the embattled minister, led by High Chief George Nwabueze, stood in defence of their daughter, exonerating her of any wrongdoing.
The placard-carrying youths accused an unnamed member of the society of being behind the calls, insisting that the intention is to stop the minister from going ahead with her transformation agenda in the aviation sector.
Speaking through the leader, Emeka Agbo, a student of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, the group said Igbo youths are prepared to go the whole hog in ensuring that their daughter is protected, expressing dismay that some highly placed individuals were determined to rubbish the towering pedigree and achievements of the minister.
Source: Guardian
No comments:
Post a Comment