SAN FRANCISCO, August 01, (THEWILL) – Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday in Abuja, explained to President Goodluck Jonathan what actually transpired at the Benin Airport, which was allegedly shut down on the orders of the governor on Tuesday.
Maintaining that although the state’s Board of Internal Revenue closed only the administrative office of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) located inside the airport, he insisted that the airport manager was the one who actually grounded the airport.
The governor, who was in Abuja to condole with the First Family on the death of the foster mother of the First Lady, Mrs Charity Oba, explained the incident to President Jonathan at a brief meeting he had with the president at his residence.
Oshiomhole later told State House correspondents that although the FAAN had defaulted by failing to remit tax proceeds of N15 million Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deducted tax from staff salary between 2010/2011, accruing to the state, the state government did not take the decision to close down the airport.
According to the governor, it was the administrative staff of the FAAN that developed cold feet after the state government had secured a court injunction to compel it to pay up; and in a bid to play to the gallery, the airport was grounded thus rendering passengers and aircraft incommunicado.
“The revenue board having obtained the court order went to serve on the FAAN manager office which is about 400 meters away from the airport but the manager felt that the only way he can draw public attention recognising the essential nature of the airport is to shut down the airport.
“So, he by himself decided to lock all the gates to the airport to make it inaccessible to the plane that landed .He decided to prevent the plane from boarding passengers and compelled the plane to fly back to Lagos empty, all (in a bid) to draw public attention in what appears to be inconveniences to him. He now extended it and that led to the drama that you saw,” Oshiomhole said.
According to the governor, “I have just explained it to the President that in relation to state Government and Federal Government, there are rules of engagement and it is more so when you recognise that there is third party which is the travelling public who have businesses.”
He maintained that his administration would not have taken such an unpopular decision considering the strategic importance of the airport to the people of the South-south and the neighbouring states.
“Tax is not a voluntary contribution by members of an association. It’s a compulsory levy and if you default in countries where the rule of law is strong, you are a candidate for prison. It is non-negotiable,” he said.
“In fact yesterday I told the FAAN MD when he came to more or less apologise for what happened that I have used Edo State tax payers money to buy diesel to ensure that the FAAN operations were not disrupted even though it is a federal institution because for me this thing about federal and state, there is one common denominator and that is the welfare and well-being of Edo people.
“That is what the villa is doing and whatever it does, it is measured in terms of how it impacts on the welfare of Nigerians. My own case is limited to the welfare and well-being of Edo State. We are complementing each other’s efforts. We are not competing and we are not antagonistic. But when it comes to tax law, I made up my mind that it is about law, I pay my tax. You pay your tax not because you want to. I will rather remove from your pay before giving you the balance. Now, the issue is that pay he has taken ; he diverts it and in terms of government businesses, you can ask the question who is keeping the money.
“So, it is unfortunate that it led to locking the airport and that was not part of it at all. But it has all been ironed out. We met with FAAN yesterday. We all smiled and agreed that our commitment to serve our country remains strong. They, as managers of the airspace, we as state authorities, are all working to improve the quality of life of Nigerians. For me, the issue is settled and I have explained it to the President that it was one of those unfortunate things and it is completely resolved.
