The Nigeria Aviation Management Agency on Friday recalled and grounded an airborne OAS Helicopter ferrying Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to Awka, Anambra State for the funeral service of late Mrs. Colette Obi, wife of Senator Ben Obi, the Special Adviser, Political Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Pilot of the helicopter, Captain James Manahash, a Filipino, 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 fifteen 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.”
The Managing Director of the OAS Helicopters, Everest Nnaji, who was contacted, expressed shock over the incident.
Nnaji said: “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.”
When approached by newsmen, a visibly angry Oshiomhole, who was kept in the sweltering sun for over an hour, declined comment.
Having been delayed unnecessarily, the governor dashed into his official car and headed for his home town, Iyamho.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Peter Okhiria, said Oshiomhole’s ordeal might not be unconnected with the ongoing onslaught against governors who are perceived to be in support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s re-election as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, who reacted to the incident, said: “I think the government of the day is competing with too many crisis and it is disturbing that governors are no longer respected or recognized even in their own domain when it is known that they were duly elected by the people.
“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 (Peoples Democratic Party) regime.
“We remain unprovoked because we are civilized people.”
But NAMA, in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Supo Atobatele, blamed the pilot of the chopper for the incident.
Atobatele said in the statement: “The attention of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has been drawn to an incident involving the flight of Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the Benin Airport early today and would like to make the following submissions for clarity based on media enquiries:
“That the pilot of an Helicopter marked 5N-BPX AS335 operated by OAS, called from Government House, Edo State that he would be lifting from there to Awka, Anambra State. He was however informed of the need for official documentation.
“That for the safety and security of people onboard there is the need to file a flight plan at the airport and submit passenger manifest.
“That his initial response was that he was flying the Governor and they were going for an important meeting in Awka.
“That the pilot was advised to lift from the airport direct and do the documentation since he had the Governor who is chief security of the State onboard. This would have taken only three minutes.
“That the flight plan can be a tool for search and rescue in case of any emergency.
“That the pilot hesitated for a while and later consented to fly to the airport.
“That at 10.18 am the helicopter landed at the airport and the pilot went straight to the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) without manifest as he claimed he didn’t know the names of those on board. He was however assisted to write the names of those onboard for the sake of the Governor.
“That NAMA officials in line with requirements for safety and security moved quickly to ensure that the pilot complied with the flight procedure and this lasted for 30 minutes.
“That the said helicopter needed to file in a flight plan because it is billed to operate in a controlled airspace where it would be expected for the pilot to yield to air traffic controllers’ instructions.
“That the Benin Airport, Air Force Commandant, Air Commodore U.J. Atiku told the pilot of the need to file in the necessary papers as a professional and should not give impression that the Governor was denied departure to Awka.
“That amidst of all these, the governor sought to speak with the Airspace Manager on the cause of delay. The ASM was never given chance to explain the need to observe mandatory procedures for safety and security, rather was verbally assaulted severally while trying to explain the primary reason for the delay.
“That the Pilot, Captain Vame believed to be a Korean later apologized to NAMA officials for his refusal to document his flight and pay the necessary charges. He pleaded that the incident should not be filed against him.
“There is no political issue in this case. NAMA is an air navigation service provider and we operate within globally acceptable standards. We are professionally guided by rules and procedures. The service we render borders on safety from the ground to the air and back to ground.”