RSG Pledges Support For Air Force

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has pledged the support of the state government to the Nigeria Air force to achieve its constitutional duties.
Amaechi made the commendation when the new Commander of 97 Special Operations Group of the Nigerian Airforce, Port Harcourt, Air Commodore Ajibola Augustine Jekennu led other officers and men to pay him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
“The Rivers State Government is willing to support the Air force in any way to execute their legitimate responsibilities. I wish you God’s blessings and thank you for coming”, he added.
The Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi also lauded officers and men of the Nigerian Air force for remaining neutral and apolitical, noting that  this is very visible among the officers and men of the Nigerian Air force in the state.
He said: “Let me welcome you to our Executive Council Chambers and welcome you to Port Harcourt. Let me through you, thank the (Nigerian) Air force. You have been supportive of government and you have been very apolitical. What we would do is to encourage you to continue to distance yourself from politics.
”There is a difference between politics and governance. Politics is when you become a card-carrying member of a party and you are listening to the political party and doing things according to their dictates. Governance is when you support the government that is in power to execute responsibilities that impact on everybody whether politician, civilian or military and that serves the interests of everybody, and I think that the Air force has played that role here in Rivers State”, he added.
He urged the new commander to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and ensure that officers and men of the force remain politically neutral in the state.
Amaechi also commended the officers and men of the 97 Special Operations Group of the Nigerian Air force in Port Harcourt for supporting his government to achieve its aims, and said he would support them to carry out their responsibilities.
Earlier, the new Commander of 97 Special Operations Group of the Nigerian Air force, Port Harcourt, Air Commodore Ajibola Augustine Jekennu said the Nigerian Air force was restructuring to play more effective roles towards the attainment of goals by elected governments in the country.
He said he was happy to be back in Rivers State to carry out that assignment.
”Your Excellency, my coming back home (to Rivers State) is not unconnected with the ongoing restructuring of the Armed Forces and the need to place us in a better position for better and more meaningful contribution to civil power and civil authority”, he said.
He also acknowledged the contributions by the Nigerian Air force in the state, and commended the good working relationship between the people and government of Rivers State and the Nigerian Air force.
”The history and the contributions of the Nigerian Air force, they are things that are well known to you Sir, particularly in Rivers State, Nigerian Air force has had a long history with the people of Rivers State. We have had cordial relationships and over the years, it has been very good particularly during your tenure.  It is on this note that I say I am glad to be back on board, and we look forward to your continued fatherly support to the unit. Thank you Sir”, he said.