Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has recovered a state-owned aircraft, Legacy 600 aircraft, from Germany.
Wike explained that the recovery and eventual return of the apparently lost asset to the state was a reality and not political stunt.
The governor, who had recently returned from a short trip to London, spoke, on Tuesday, after receiving the Legacy 600 aircraft that touched down at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State.
A brief reception of cultural exhibition was organized at the airport by Rivers women and youths to celebrate the eventual return of the state-owned aircraft secretly abandoned in Germany by the immediate past administration in the state.
According to Wike, it took an intelligence report for his administration to discover such an asset, owned by the Rivers State government.
He explained that the immediate past administration of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi flew the aircraft to far away Germany, without any record of it in the handover note given to him (Wike).
He added that, in fixing the aircraft, an airworthiness certificate, issued by the Nigerian government, was secured for the aircraft to return to Nigeria.
The Rivers State Governor said, “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.
“I thank 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, its money that would have been put in other developmental projects if we were told on time.”
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, expressed delight that after ten years, the Rivers State government has successfully recovered the aircraft.
He said the State government will decide how the asset will be used in furtherance of the state’s development.
Senator Barry Mpigi, who represents Rivers South-East District in the Senate, commended governor Wike for his tenacity to defend the interest of the State.
According to him, the recovered aircraft is additional asset to the government and people of Rivers State.
The chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, said governor Wike has once again demonstrated his zeal to protect the interest of the State.
The King lauded the governor for not allowing the State property to get lost in Europe and unaccounted for.
