Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared Caverton Helicopters persona non grata in the state. Consequently, Wike has ordered the shutdown of Caverton Helicopters offices in all the local governments in Rivers State.
He made this disclosure in a state broadcast on Wednesday.
Equally important, Wike accused the airline of endangering the lives of Rivers people by its suspicious operations.
1st News can report that the action of the governor arose over the decision of the airline to flout the total restriction on flights into Port Harcourt. As a matter of fact, Caverton had flown an undisclosed number of persons into Rivers State; prompting the arrest of the pilots.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has criticised the actions of the Rivers State Governor; which it claimed is an affront to President Muhammadu Buhari. Specifically, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika stated that the Air Force Commander in Port Harcourt, who invited Wike, to arrest the pilots and passengers on board the concerned flight; the Police Commissioner who accompanied Wike and the Military Commander; who all collaborated with the Governor; usurped Buhari’s authority.
Sirika said that necessary approvals were given to Caverton to fly. Also, she held that the aviation sector is on the exclusive list; noting that Wike had no right to enter the premises of Caverton.
“We appreciate the need to protect business interests and operations in the State. We will do whatever that is required to ensure that no business is unduly affected; especially by the measures we have taken to combat the Coronavirus,’’ Wike said.
“However, we shall not welcome businesses or companies that value their business activities or profit; more than or in clear disregard of the lives and health of our people. By its actions, Caverton Helicopters have clearly shown that Rivers lives do not matter to it. It is an enemy of Rivers people and is hereby declared persona non grata in Rivers State.
“With this declaration, Caverton Helicopters can only choose to operate in any part of Rivers State at its own risk; as Local Government Chairmen have been directed to close their offices and prevent their operations.”
In addition, the Rivers State Governor made references to ‘credible intelligence’ which he claimed; had indicted some enemies of the state to traffic infected COVID-19 patients into the state.
He held that the provocative actions of Caverton had happened in the midst of these reports.
“Their morbid intention is to create panic by pushing up the infection rate; and rubbish the robust measures we have since put in place to cut off the spread of the virus; and keep our state and our citizens safe and secure from the ravaging pandemic.
”As expected, and required by our laws, the crew and the passengers on board that ill-fated helicopter; were promptly arrested by the law enforcement personnel and are being prosecuted before our courts; in line with our COVID 19 Declarations and Containment Orders.
“Caverton Helicopters claimed to have gotten permits from some federal agencies to fly passengers into the State; which never bothered to take the State Government into confidence in issuing such permits; in violation of our laws and containment orders. While federal agencies reserve the right to issue flight permits to airline operators to fly into Rivers State; we insist that the State Government must equally be informed; and taken into confidence in the process.
“This the only way to avoid suspicion, conflicts of interests and unnecessary bickering between the State and Federal Governments; in our collective efforts to combat the spread of COVID 19 in the country.”
Wike described COVID-19 as a matter of life and death in Rivers State; noting that the state will resist any attempts to blackmail it in its efforts to keep its citizens safe.
“Since we triggered the law on Caverton Helicopters; we have seen and read all sorts of hilarious and frivolous comments, particularly on social media; questioning the propriety of our actions against the carrier and its passengers. At this time and under the present situation, nothing; I repeat; nothing, is more important to us than to safeguard the lives and well-being of our citizens no matter the cost; and we shall spare no efforts to achieve this singular most fundamental objective of our Government.”
Source: 1stnews
