From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Hope Arewa Development Initiative (HADI) has rejected the move by the federal government to relocate the establishment of fire and truck maintenance and refurbishment centre project from Katsina State.
A subterranean cum obnoxious plot by AVSATEL Communications Limited, is seeking the relocation of the federal establishment, Fire and Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre project’s site, outside of Katsina State.
In an official correspondence to the Minister of Aviation and Airspace Development, Festus Keyamo, dated December 4, 2023, the Managing Director/CEO of AVSATEL Communications Limited, Mag. Georg Eder, sought the Minister’s consent to relocate the project in Katsina.
However, reacting to the appeal, in a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Adamu Mohammed, the Arewa group described the reasons adduced as the most comical explanation ever.
“Our initiative reject the callous move to relocate the siting of the project at any other part of Nigeria, outside its original, beautiful and safe abode – our dear Katsina state and the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport.
“Without mincing words, HADI wishes to express its absolute dismay and utter discontentment with the ill-thought move. The reckless action, though yet to be executed, is one that brazenly assaults the collective intelligence of teeming Katsina citizens and residents alike.
“For the benefit of hindsight, AVSATEL Communications, on December 7, 2022, was awarded the contract to supply the machinery and tools referenced in the title of this statement, at the Umaru Yaradua International Airport.
“Beyond the contract award, the management of AVSATEL in their letter to the Aviation Minister also informed him that they have since accepted the contract and also, signed the necessary contractual agreement. Not only that, AVSATEL Communications’ Managing Director assured that they will comply with all conditions as stipulated in the agreements,” the statement read.
The Arewa group however special appeal to the Minister Keyamo to honour the groundbreaking of the project in Katsina.
“The reality of him not being a Nigerian citizen, we dare say, instantly forecloses the right he has to suggest where else the project should be sited, after the federal government, in its brilliant wisdom, had suitably opted for Katsina. As for Keyamo, who we have tremendous regards for, it will be patriotic and rational for him to eschew approving AVSATEL Communications’ ‘unfair’ and wicked’ request, for many obvious reasons.
“One, it will generate bad blood for him, especially from the government and people of Katsina state, who have always considered him to be one of the few legal luminaries of true conscience in our contemporary Nigeria can boast of; and more importantly, a patriotic Nigerian and distinguished human rights who passionately loathe injustice, in every form.
“Second, the Minister need not be told that his personal integrity and long-standing reputation as an advocate of justice, fairness and equity will be sullied by the time he succumbs to the ‘retrogressive’ request of AVSATEL Communications to have the project taken to the South or FCT.
“However, we urge President Tinubu not to fold its arms and remain docile when the noble interests of the good people of Katsina are threatened.