The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said that the Federal
Government has no intention to convert Arik Air into a national
carrier.
Fielding questions from journalists at the end of the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday, the minister said Arik Air
is not be suitable for the carrier that the ministry is
planning.
The Managing Director of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON),
Ahmed Kuru, had urged the FG to use the airline as a stepping stone in
its quest to own a national carrier.
“The carrier that I intend to bring is such a carrier that will
support the national economy, with $450 million GDP for 200million
people is very equipped to compete favourably,” he said.
“The international airlines that have dominated Africa, 80 per cent of
those airlines are non-African. In view of the AU Agenda 2063, the
Single African Aviation Market, we thought that there will be an
airline that will take up that challenge; that will take advantage of
it and be able to provide services to our people.
“Nigeria, being the first country to kick-start the declaration in
1999, to establish a one common market in Africa; at the time, we
wanted to take advantage of the Nigeria Airways which was the
strongest airline on the continent, and we thought that we could take
advantage of that and it would pay Nigeria very well. Tables turned,
decisions were reversed and now, Nigeria was unlucky to have an
airline that can participate in that manner.
“So, the answer to your question is that Arik, as presently
constituted, is not in line with the thinking of the ministry. It will
not be able to give us that airline that we need. However, Arik as an
entity, since it is private-sector driven, can either buy shares in
the new ventures or invest in any manner in the business as presently
approved.
“We are not saying once we have a national carrier, every other
airline goes down. No. It is our duty to continue to support
businesses.”
The FG had unveiled the national carrier’s name and logo at the
Farnborough International Airshow in London in July 2018 and plans for
the airline was suspended in September of the same year.
Court to rule over legality of Chief who allegedly declares self monarch, Jan
By Kayode Adeoti
The Kwara State High court, will on 16th January, 2020 put to rest
controversies surrounding the legality of Chief Michael Sunday
Ayantola, the lieutenant of Obajisun of Ayedun, Dr Olusegun Rotimi,
who allegedly declared self monarch of the ancient town.
The trial judge, Justice T. S Umar, fixed the date yesterday, after
dismissing motion for the revocation of Ayantola’s bail, moved by the
prosecution team, headed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP),
Abdulmumini Adebimpe Jimoh.
The court posited that the prosecution team failed to prove beyond
reasonable doubt, the allegation that the defendant is misusing the
privilege of the court.
Earlier, the defendant’s counsel, Abolarin Akinmade, kicked against
the motion saying his client still possess privilege to enjoy
fundamental human rights because he is presumed innocent of the
alleged offences.
Recall that, Ayedun in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of the state
began to experience chieftaincy crisis in 2014, shortly after Obajisun
installed the defendant as his lieutenant (Oba Oye) and Chairman of
kingmakers.
Ayantola was appointed Oba Oye (Second-in-command) from Ile Agbe in
Iwoye compound out of the three wards that have rights to the title.
Ayantola reportedly wrote the state government, demanding that he
should be recognised as king and as such, be graded to 2nd class, the
same range with Obajisun.
It was gathered that the state government replied him then with a
sound warning to desist from such request.
After his report was turned down, Ayantola reportedly sued the state
government, Obajisun and the Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice at the Omu-Aran High Court.
According to findings, the Omu-Aran High Court delivered judgement
against Ayantola even as he was also at a time, detained in police
custody for three days.
In order to address what was believed to be sacrilegious activities
been perpetrated by the defendant, the Kwara State Government dragged
Ayantola to the High Court, sitting in Ilorin.
He was said to have carved out ‘his kingdom’ from Ayedun, thereby
presiding over it as king.
The defendant, who hails from Iwoye compound in the community
proclaimed himself as Oba Iwoye of Iwoye land.
Obajisun, through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Adebimpe
Abdulmumini Jimoh, at the previous proceedings posited that such
development is against the tradition of Ayedun.
The plan by Ayantola to appoint Chiefs who will work with him in Iwoye
kingdom was reportedly foiled by Obajisun following a petition
forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The Ayedun monarch in the petition, called on the police and the A-G
of the state to prevail over the situation less it degenerated into
breakdown of law and order.
So far, the two parties have presented their final addresses, with the
prosecutor calling six witnesses while the defendant presented three.
