By Former Governor of Rivers State, Hon Rotimi Amaechi has given his own side of the story concerning the two armored helicopters recently impounded by the Customs and handed over to the Nigerian Air Force. He confirmed that his administration purchased the helicopters to help make the State safer from the activities of militants.
Amaechi, current Minister of Transport in a statement signed by his media office described reasons why the choppers were purchased.
Stop Press! Rivers State Owns Two Armored Helicopters Donated To Nigerian Air Force – https://t.co/2zLVt3RqNH
He explained that the armored aircraft were purchased in collaboration with the office of the National Security Adviser after the State was advised by security experts to get the helicopters to help curb the rate of crimes in the oil region.
Amaechi stated that the delivery of the choppers were politically delayed by the duo of former President Goodluck Jonathan and current Governor of the State, Barr Nyesom Wike.
See the full statement below…
Our attention has been drawn to misrepresentations and innuendoes as it concerns the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and current minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the purchase and importation of two helicopters into Nigeria that was supposedly abandoned at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. To set the records straight, … when Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi took over as Governor of Rivers State, criminals masquerading as militants, kidnappers and all other criminal elements were on the prowl in Rivers State. With a strong political will to tackle these menace and make the State a safe place, Amaechi initiated a lot of measures to deal with the menace. Purchasing these helicopters was one of the measures the Amaechi administration took to curb the clandestine and criminal activities in the state. And the decision to go for these helicopters was based on the advice and recommendation of security experts and specialists that were working closely with our Nigerian security agents to rid the state of these criminals- kidnappers, pipeline vandals, vicious political cultists.
“Sequel to the recommendation of security experts, the Rivers State Government bought the two Bell 412 security surveillance helicopters during the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in collaboration with the federal government through the office of the National Security Adviser(NSA).”
