Outrage as NAMA forces Oshiomhole’s chopper to land.

In a manner reminiscent of the grounding of the aircraft carrying Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in Akure, Ondo State, about six weeks ago, the Nigerian Aviation Management Agency (NAMA), on Friday, recalled  an airborne OAS helicopter carrying Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who was going to Awka, Anambra State  for the funeral service of the late wife of Senator Ben Obi, Mrs Colette Obi.

It was learnt that after take-off, the pilot, Captain James Manahash, a Filipino, was told to return the chopper to the airport in Benin

Captain Manahash said:  “I was surprised that I was recalled after taking-off from Government House because I had communicated with the control tower on radio.

“We were already airborne when we got the call to return to the airport and was even threatened that failure to do so would lead to complete grounding of the aircraft. The governor prevailed on me to return and listen to them.

“When we got back to the airport, I was told to pay landing and aerodrome fees which ordinary we could pay later because we were already airborne.

“Even after completion of the process of payment within 10 minutes, we were still delayed for one hour 15 minutes. The governor left in anger after that.

“I am surprised by this development because this is not the first time I would be coming to Benin to fly the governor.

“I was even threatened, after payment, that the aircraft will be grounded completely if I argued with them. I have flown for 35 years, seven of which I spent in Nigeria and this is the first time I am encountering a situation like this. I do not know what problem they have with the governor.”

Managing Director of the OAS Helicopters, Mr Everest Nnaji, when contacted, expressed shock over the incident, saying that “I am still making calls to find out exactly why they did not allow the pilot fly the helicopter conveying the governor to Anambra State. I am really angry, I don’t know why they did that and that is why I am still trying to make contact because we have no problems with NAMA.”

In his reaction, the Benin airspace acting Manager, who gave his name as Mr. Okolie, said,  “I don’t have anything for you. If anyone said his aircraft was grounded by us, ask him why.”

When approached by journalists, a visibly angry Oshiomhole who had stayed in the sun for over an hour, declined comment, dashed into his official car and headed for his home town, Iyamho.

The Nigeria Aviation ministry reacting to the incident said  the helicopter conveying the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, was not grounded, but only asked to obey extant rules.

The Coordinating Manager, Information and Communications for Aviation Parastatals, Yakubu Datti, said the aircraft was only called back to fill its manifest and make some payments which the pilot had failed to do.

“The helicopter picked the governor from government house in Benin. By procedure, the pilot was supposed to file manifest and all other procedures, but because these were not done before takeoff, NAMA (Nigeria Airspace Management Agency) called them down to do all those things.

“Of course you cannot just pick someone up and fly over the airport just like that,” Mr. Datti said.

The aviation ministry spokesperson, however, explained that the pilot was only invited to fill his manifest and make necessary payments.

“The governor came down got angry while all this was happening, said they were wasting his time and walked out, the helicopter was not grounded at all,” Mr. Datti said.

 “How else do you explain the role of a NAMA clerk who grounded the governor’s aircraft and prevented him from keeping his appointment in Anambra state because he is acting out a script that has become the rule of engagement by a dictatorial PDP regime. We remain unprovoked because we are civilised people” he stated.