By Sani Wilson Enemona

Sokoto State Governor and Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has challenged Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria to feel free to consult their PDP counterparts on how best to develop their states.

Tambuwal mentioned this in Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital on Sunday at the reception of two new 160-seater A220, 300 series Airbuses recently acquired by the Akwa Ibom State Government to boost the Ibom Air fleet.

The Sokoto governor who was in the state a week ago to Commission projects lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel’s versatility which he said has seen to the simultaneous development of all key sectors of the state’s economy.

He said, “You are touching all facets of life of Akwa Ibom people; In infrastructural development you are there, in human capital development, in education, in industrialization and now in aviation development. You have raised the bar, proving to Nigerians that this can be done”.

Governor Tambuwal while congratulating Governor Udom Emmanuel for daring to explore even into areas in the exclusive list declared that only PDP Governors were actually performing in the country.

He added, “Since APC Government came in at the centre, they have been talking about National Carrier and up till now we have not seen even a Local Carrier, I want to ask the APC Government not to be ashamed, but to come down to Akwa Ibom and ask Governor Emmanuel how he is able to do it, I’m sure he will not object because he is a Patriotic Nigerian and would advise them on how they can also make things work”.

Governor Udom Emmanuel while receiving the Airbuses which increased the number to seven the number of aircrafts in the fleet of Ibom Airlines, declared that they were the latest and smartest and just a little above 150 of its kind manufactured and circulated as at April 30th 2021.

Governor Emmanuel further said that his target for the aviation sector in the state is to acquire 10 of such airbuses, ensure the ongoing international terminal is world class and to complete the ongoing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hanger for aircrafts maintenance in the state.

“Since APC Government came in at the centre, they have been talking about National Carrier and up till now we have not seen even a Local Carrier, I want to ask the APC Government not to be ashamed, but to come down to Akwa Ibom and ask Governor Emmanuel how he is able to do it, I’m sure he will not object because he is a Patriotic Nigerian and would advise them on how they can also make things work.”

His Excellency, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, at the reception ceremony of 2 New Airbus A220-300 planes for Ibom Air at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.