Oduah’s Sack: It's St. Valentine's Day Gift for Nigerians – Aviation Stakeholders

 

Mixed reactions from aviation stakeholders greeted the removal of Princess Stella Oduah as the Minister of Aviation on February 12, 2014, Wednesday.
She was relieved of her post alongside the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Police Affairs, Chris Olukolade and the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama.
In his reaction, the President of Aviation Roundtable, Captain Dele Ore said the sack was a welcome development.
“That is good news, I congratulate the President Goodluck Jonathan for the bold step he has taken though it is belated but it is a welcome development.
“Now that the Minister has been sacked this is the time to bring aviation back to the right track. We hope it is not too late to protect our Category 1 status which is been threatened,” he said.
Mr. SherI Kyari, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, however, faulted the removal of the embattled Minister on the premise that she should have been allowed to complete some of the projects like construction of perishable goods terminal and the current remodelling of airports in the country.
Comrade Olayinka Abioye, the Deputy General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association, said the removal of the Minister is a Valentine gift to Nigerians.

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He picked holes in the purchase of two bullet proof cars at the cost N255million for conveying dignitaries from International Civil Aviation Organization, amongst others.
Comrade Abioye wondered why dignitaries that have been visiting Nigeria for the past 50 years now require bullet proof cars. He believes that the scandal was enough to sack her.
It would be recalled that Princess Stella Oduah was sworn in on July 2, 2011, and deployed as the Minister of Aviation on July 4th.
In October 2013, she was accused of forcing the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to buy two armoured cars for her use at the cost of N255 million (U.S. $1.6 million). Her critics charge that the cost was inflated, there was no provision for such a purchase in the budget, nor did their acquisition process comply with public procurement policy.