By Francis Sadhere
THE National President of Niger Delta Good Governance Forum, Lt. Col. Satchie Ayomike Etoromi (rtd), today, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore what he described as evil calls for the removal of the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah over the controversial N255 million bullet proof cars, saying what she did was legal.
Speaking to our correspondent in Warri, Lt. Col. Etoromi claimed that President Jonathan was the main target of those attacking the Aviation Minister over the controversial N255 Million bullet proof cars as a result of the 2015 general election.
He said; “You know very well that the Aviation Minister is behind the effective Neighbour to Neighbour and now that the 2015 general election is around the corner, some unpatriotic elements in the country are trying to rubbish the hard working Minister who has upgraded our Airports to international standard.”
He added that; “President Jonathan should know that he is the main target of those attacking and making noise all over the place as a result of the purchase of the operational vehicles. They want to rubbish the Aviation Minister in order to get at the President and I want to appeal to the President to ignore these evil calls for her removal. President Jonathan should not sack her.”
“What those calling for her removal are doing is against national interest. No law was breached as a result of the purchase of the cars. Her action was borne out of her passion for the Aviation ministry, her good measure should not be condemned. Those attacking her have hidden agenda,” he added
According to him also; “What they are doing is wrong. They should not destroy the reputation that Nigeria has gained in the international world. The Nigeria airspace is one of the safest airspace in the world, according to NAMA. If regulations are there and people are not complying and the effects are now showing, is it the Minister’s fault? Is it the Minister that flies these planes? The regulations that are there have helped to develop the air space and they are better. So just because some people want to give a dog a bad name, they just come up with funny stories. We should stand up and tell these people that what they are doing is wrong and they should stop it.”
Lt. Col. Etoromi also held that “2015 is around the corner and these people have started unpatriotic campaign, these people are narrow minded, the attacks on the minister have political undertone and it is unfortunate that some Nigerians cannot see the good works the aviation minister has done since she came on stream. People are talking too much about the cars. They should stop reducing us to unprogressive situation and to stand up for truth.”
“We should not pull down a hard working minister like Princess Stella Oduah. Let us do things that will bring peace to our country,” he added.
