…Former Chief of Staff Gives Detail
I have been reading with very keen interest and rapt Attention and utter amazement, to the Arguments around the issues on the State Government owned Legacy 600 vis, it’s recovery in Germany.
From the account of Rivers State Government as espoused by his Excellency, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the aforesaid Aircraft was recovered/found in Germany after nearly a decade, via intelligence order than a formal handover report from the previous Government.
I also read the account of My Former colleague, Hon George Tolofari, Former Commissioner of Transport, Rivers State, in the Cabinet of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON, as he then was.
Both accounts stunned my imagination. I therefore in my limbo State, elected to read and flip through, knowing that the immutable truth will prevail ultimately.
But Whilst I maintained some studied silence, my phones will not stop buzzing with Calls and messages from curious Nigerians, particularly members of the Fourth estate of the realm, to hear and chronicle my own version to the seeming odoriferous saga about to impugn on my person.
Against this backdrop, I decided to succinctly state as follows:
1) that on assumption of office as Chief of staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, ipso facto, responsible for the daily affairs of the Government House, including, inter~alia, the management/travels of my Principal ( Governor), I applied for and got approval for the running of the Government Aircraft (Legacy 600 brand) which expectedly, ought and was at the disposal of the Governor and/or his assignee,
Consequent upon this, the aircraft hitherto managed by the Ministry of Transport, Rivers State, was surrendered and domiciled in the office of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rivers State.
It therefore came under the purview of my office, to fuel, maintain/service procure parts from (Embraier), and maintain the crew.
These were effectively handled by my office and when bills especially for routine servicing/maintenance and purchase of damaged parts, were huge and exceeded, my financial capacity, I made special Memos to the Governor and got prompt approvals and releases from the Ministry of Finance. ( Records of Such memos are available in the archive of the Ministry of Finance).
2) Legacy 600 aircraft with Captain Okabie (now translated), as the Chief Pilot, was the official Airbus of His Excellency, the Governor and/or his assignee, until the State Government took delivery of the procured bigger and more sophisticated Bombardier Aircraft.
3). With the subsistence of the approval as aforementioned, the newly acquired Bombardier Aircraft, remained in the management of the Office of the Chief of Staff, Government House, now with Captain Tosin, as the Chief Pilot.
4) As in the case of preference for new and more sophisticated technogy, the Bombardier Aircraft became the most preferred because of its precision, weather~proof and other Vogue technological advantages over the former.
5) Both Aircrafts were parked at the International Airport or the Airforce, depending on where was convenient within time specificity.
6) To my surprise, while on the company of His Excellency, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to the Airport on a fateful day, as I was wont to do, I discovered that the Legacy 600 Aircraft, wasn’t at it’s usual parking space.
I immediately invited the Head Pilot, who had become an assistant to Captain Tosin on the new Bombardier and queried the whereabout of the Legacy 600 Aircraft. He professed ignorance of the whereabout of the Aircraft. Same was Captain Tosin whose account was half~baked.
Dissatisfied with the accounts, I did a memo to the Governor, capturing my bewilderment and utter surprise for the disappearance of the Aircraft. That Memo may have been treated but never minuted back to me.
7) I was in Cabinet between 2012/2015 as Chief of Staff, Government House.
8) I attended All Executive Council Meetings.
9) I never was privy to Exco decision to sell off the Legacy 600 Aircraft or exchange it for a better/superior model.
10) That both the Old Legacy 600 and new Bombardier Aircrafts, were run/managed by the Office of the Chief of Staff.
11) That Any or both of these Aircrafts, never left the Port~Harcourt International Airport or the Airforce base, to nearby Lagos, without my knowledge as it was my responsibility to mobilise the Crews for All checks and items including Allowances, required to ensure a smooth flight.
12) That the Two Government owned Aircrafts ceased to be under the control and management of the Ministry of Transport, Rivers State, by the application and approval made by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor and the Approval thereto.
13) That the disappearance of the Aircraft was uncovered and officially communicated to my boss with no Feedback, of course, the buck in decision~making in Government, doesn’t stop on my table.
14) That I wasn’t in the picture neither in knowledge of the movement of the Aircraft to Germany for any reason whatsoever. Needless therefore to say that the recovery of the Aircraft in Germany, is stunning/jolting News to me.
