The All Progressives Congress has said Governor
Rauf Aregbesola will not sell the helicopter
purchased by the administration for surveillance
purposes.
The Chairman of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Gboyega
Famodun, who said this at a press conference in
Osogbo on Monday, described the Peoples
Democratic Party which advised the governor to sell
the helicopter to pay workers’ salaries as ignorant.
Famodun, however, called on President Muhammadu
Buhari to ‘strongly consider a bailout for states’
affected, saying if banks would be bailed out with
N4tn, it would be a reasonable decision for the
Federal Government to bail out states at this moment
of crisis.
He explained that the helicopter was bought together
with Armour Personnel Carriers to assist security
agents in combating criminals, who he said held the
state by the jugular and raided at will, which led to
the closure of some businesses.
The ruling party said the helicopter which was
disallowed from functioning effectively by the Federal
Government was now generating money to the state
through lease arrangement. The party said it was
helping the governor in building an airport in the
state.
The APC added that the state and the Nigeria Air
Force were collaborating to build the project which
he said would be of immense benefit to the state
when completed.
Famodun said, “On the question of helicopter, the
opposition recently gave an unsolicited advice to the
state government, asking it to sell its surveillance
helicopter. It was an uninformed call. You will all
recall the spate of armed banditry in the state prior
to our coming.
“The helicopter cost N500m and it was paid for in five
instalments. With these measures in place, you now
know the difference. However, the helicopter was
practically disabled by the Federal Government itself.
“Before the surveillance machine was bought, the
governor built a state-of-the-art Call Centre that was
to operate with a special security code. The FG-
controlled NCC refused till today to provide the
special code for the helicopter to be linked with
ground equipment for surveillance. Thus the
surveillance helicopter was effectively disabled.
“The chopper was however put on lease and it is
making money for the state and only recalled for use
as the need arises. It is one of the sound financial
decisions made by the government. We cannot but
marvel at the ignorance and mischief of those calling
for the sale of the helicopter and the quality of the
thinking of those asking government to dispose of an
instrument being used for the security of the
citizens.”