Public Asset: Wike explains how Rivers recovers state’s Legacy 600 aircraft from Germany

*Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has related how ‘intelligence report’ assisted his administration to discover the state-owned Legacy 600 Aircraft, as stakeholders hail recovery of the state asset from the European country

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has taken delivery of the state’s Legacy 600 aircraft said to have been abandoned in Germany by Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, his predecessor, since 2012.

Governor Wike, January 2022, had announced the discovery of the aircraft, while alleging that the aircraft was dumped by former Governor Amaechi in the European country without documentation.

The aircraft bought by the Peter Odili Administration in 2003, became untraceable in 2012 under the administration Amaechi, until January this year, according to report.

However, Wike announced its discovery at the General Atomics Aerotec, an Aircraft Servicing Firm in Munich, Germany.

A reception was held at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in Rivers State, when the aircraft touched down at about 4p.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2022.

The Rivers State Governor was accompanied by some leaders of the state for an inspection, as he explained how the aircraft was discovered and retrieved to the South-South state.

Some other leaders believed the retrieval of the aircraft will improve the administration and economy of the state, report stated.

Recovery of legacy aircraft beyond politicking -Wike

Meanwhile, Governor Wike has restated that the recovery and eventual return of the hitherto seemingly lost asset of the Rivers State Legacy 600 aircraft is a reality, and one that goes beyond mere politics.

The governor said this after he took delivery of the aircraft that touched down Tuesday afternoon at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State.

At a brief reception that took place at the airport, there were some cultural displays staged by Rivers women and youths to celebrate the return of the State owned Legacy 600 Aircraft, which was “secretly abandoned” in Germany by the immediate past administration.

Wike also explained that it took intelligence report for his administration to discover such asset, owned by the Rivers State government.

He purported the immediate past administration flew the aircraft to far away Germany without any record of it made available to his administration.

Wike said: “To the glory of God, the plane is back and Rivers people can see, Nigerians can see, it is not that we are playing politics.

“All we are saying, we never knew, nobody told us until we got intelligence that we have this asset somewhere.”

The governor as well recalled that the Legacy 600 Aircraft was purchased by the Dr. Peter Odili-led administration to serve the interest of Rivers people, but was abandoned with the General Atomics Aerotec in Munich, Germany by the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi’s administration since 2012.

He further stated: “What is very important to all of us here today is that when we came into power in 2015, nobody handed over any report, or gave us handover note to let us know where such asset of the state was, only for us to hear in 2019 that this asset is somewhere.”

Governor Wike informed that because air transportation is a more technical area, great care was taken to put the Legacy 600 Aircraft into its best form to undertake air travel effectively.

According to him, so much money was expended by the Rivers State Government on the aircraft, money that would have put into other development projects, if his administration had known of it quite early.

According to him, in fixing the aircraft, certificate of air worthiness certificate, issued by the Nigerian Government, was secured for the aircraft to return to Nigeria.

Wike noted: “Of course, we did everything we could do, and we told Nigerians that by the grace of God, we will not allow this asset to go that way.

“We must return it for the people of the state to decide what they are going to do with it.

“I am so elated that at the end of the day, all of our struggles are not in vain.”

The governor stated: “I think Rivers people for the support. I thank the Rivers State House of Assembly for the support.

“I thank the Executive for the support.

“But for their support, it would not have been possible to spend the money we spent.

“If you hear the money we spent, it’s money that would have been put in other development projects if we were told on time of it.”

Rivers House of Assembly hails recovery

Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has also expressed delight that after 10 years, the Rivers State Government successfully recovered the aircraft.

The Speaker said the State Government would decide how the asset would be used to further advance the state.

Senator Barry Mpigi, representing Rivers South East in the Nigerian Senate, commended Governor Wike for his tenacity to defend the interest of the state and its people.

The recovered aircraft is additional asset to the government and people of Rivers State, said Mpigi.

His Majesty king Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, said Wike, once again, had demonstrated his zeal to protect the interest of the state in the Niger Delta region.

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