Monday, 9th June, 2014. According to Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, the governor and a few other dignitaries were in Kano to pay condolence visits to the Kano state government over the death of Emir Ado Bayero. On enquiry by PREMIUM TIMES Monday morning, Mr. Amaechi said after visiting Governor Kwankwaso, he, along with other dignitaries, made for the Aminu Kano Airport where his chartered aircraft was parked, but immediately his team entered the airport buildings preparatory to boarding the plane back to Abuja, authorities locked all the doors to the complex, holding him and his colleagues hostage.
The plane was also impounded, in his words, “The Kano governor called the airport commandant that we should at least be allowed to leave the building but the commandant refused saying he had an order from above not to let us out, We had to force one of the doors open to get away... So, we quickly got a car, bought fuel and started driving towards Abuja. We sold a dummy to the airport people and a few others that we were returning to the Kano Government House. The governor was also expecting us. But we were far gone. I personally drove the car and all of us had to switch off our phones so no one would know our whereabouts... I drove for five hours and we arrived Abuja at 2 a.m. We were not afraid of armed robbers or anyone attacking us on the road. We were only afraid that the authorities could plant people on the road to waylay and attack us. But thank God we arrived safe.... I have been shouting that we are in a dictatorship, people thought I’m joking or exaggerating,” Mr. Amaechi said. “At least we can all see what is playing out.”
In the car Mr. Amaechi drove from Kano to Abuja are Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi, and a former Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abubakar Baraje.
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