“All we know is what the operating vendor has told us “Federal authorities are concluding some documentary updates that will allow the Obidient Aircraft to continue flying within the country’s aviation regulations” We are mot privy to the specific details.”
A plane claimed to be dedicated to the campaign of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has been grounded at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
But in a swift reaction, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said no plane belonging to Obi’s campaign was grounded. The NCAA said the plane in question is a scheduled operator and only returned to the ground for some checks.
The plane allegedly was grounded on Wednesday when it was supposed to convey some leaders and supporters of Obi to Ibadan for the rally which held on Wednesday.
Julius Abure, National Chairman of the LP, while confirming the development, said “We have just finished our rally in Ibadan. It is true that the plane meant to convey our NWC and NEC members for campaign was grounded by the powers that be. But we were not deterred by the plane that was grounded.
“This is what we have been saying about this country. It is not the first time it is happening. They have been using every opportunity to ensure we don’t get to do anything in this country.”
Also, the Head of Media for Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Diran Onifade, released a statement to express the PCC’s displeasure at the turn of event.
However, in their response, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority denied the allegations and explained that the plane belonged to a scheduled operator.
It said, “The so-called grounded plane belongs to a scheduled operator i.e. normal commercial flight. The flight crew of the said aircraft returned to the base on their own to check on an issue that developed soon after it took off. This is the normal and right thing to do. What they did is what we termed safety precautionary flight measures. NCAA was not involved in this decision.”
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Also reacting, a former presidential candidate, Remi Sonaiya, said The last minute grounding of the “Obident” campaign aircraft today couldn’t stop the Ibadan rally from holding successfully, Some people are getting really jittery, but these petty actions wont work! You cannot dam a tsunami”
Perhaps, in reference to the NCAA’s explanation of what happened, Obaze Osaluka, a leader of LP, said the operating company had disclosed what transpired and that its claim is more reliable that any other one.
He wrote, “All we know is what the operating vendor has told us “Federal authorities are concluding some documentary updates that will allow the Obidient Aircraft to continue flying within the country’s aviation regulations” We are mot privy to the specific details.”