Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi Locked Up At Kano Airport.

THE Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, was locked inside the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Sunday for an undisclosed number of minutes after his chartered aircraft was grounded by the airport authorities.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who spoke on Amaechi’s behalf, briefing newsmen on Monday, said all the gates leading into and out of the airport were locked apparently to prevent the take-off or landing of any aircraft.

Semenitari expressed surprise that the gates could be locked when it was clear that Amaechi was still in the aircraft.

She explained that the padlocks to the gates had to be broken to allow Amaechi, who was in company with the former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje and Alhaji Kawu Baraje go out of the airport.

The commissioner added that Amaechi was denied take-off from the Aminu Kano Airport by a man identified as Commandant, who insisted that the order was from above.

“More seriously is the fact that this does not portend well for our democracy. It does not portend well for us as we enter into the next election. A situation where newspapers are seized is the beginning of stifling Nigerians,” she stressed.

Amaechi had gone to condole with the Kano State Governor on the demise of the immediate past Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.