How President Jonathan Grounded Bombardier Jet Carrying House Speaker Tambuwal and Rivers Governor Amaechi In Akure

Governor Rotimi Amaechi

The crisis in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) over the 2015 presidential ambition of Mr. Goodluck Jonathan threatened to erupt into the open today as the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in Akure grounded a jet being operated by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who is the chairman of Nigeria's Governors Forum (NGF).

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who is also understood to be interested in running for president, was grounded along with Mr. Amaechi.

Mr. Jonathan is engaged in growing political warfare with Governor Amaechi over his refusal to support him for a second term in office.

It was learnt from sources at the airport that the NAMA managing director ordered the Bombardier jet, which was recently purchased by the governor, permission to take off from the airport acting on “orders from above,” apparently President Goodluck Jonathan.

Our source stated that Mr. Amaechi had picked up the Speaker from Owerri Airport in Imo State soon after Tambuwal attended the burial ceremony of a relative of the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

The Speaker and Governor Amaechi later headed to Ekiti to attend the final funeral rites of the late Deputy Governor of the state, Funmilayo Olayinka.

Following the ceremony, the Governor and the Speaker returned to the Akure Airport to depart for Port Harcourt only to find that NAMA officials had grounded the jet, leaving them stranded.The governor reportedly put a call to NAMA MD, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, who promised to get back to him regarding the order to ground the jet.

After waiting for a while and not getting the return call, the governor began to call Udoh, only to discover that the MD's phone had been switched off.

It took the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Aviation, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, to get the MD to reverse the no-fly order.  There was no immediate confirmation as to what Abuja was trying to achieve.

Speaker Tambuwal is understood to be seriously considering the race for Presidency in 2015, but it is unclear what the relationship with Amaechi may be in that respect.  The Rivers State governor is also linked with Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State for the race as vice-presidential candidate.