We are all aware of the penchant of APC leaders to churn out lies. We  know that they lack the capacity to tell the truth. It is common  knowledge that they script their lies for the mere reason that they  derive sadistic pleasure from deceiving the Nigerians in view of  their inability to perform.
If not, why would the Nigerian Custom Service and the Nigerian Air Force  gather journalists for the sole purpose of churning out lies that  belittle the entire country. Since May 2015, lying has become the  nation’s official policy.
It is sad that the APC Government has dragged the entire security  structure into its web of lies. This latest in the series of falsehood  and fiction, would make Nollywood Producers cringe with envy.     For no explicable reason, the Nigerian Custom Service and the Nigerian  Air Force chose to tow the path of dishonour, just to act out a script  handed over to them by the lying APC.
Several newspapers on Friday, January 28, 2017 reported that the  Custom Service impounded two helicopters worth N9.7b. The Custom  Service claimed that the owner of the helicopters remain unknown as  they handed the security helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force.
The APC script writers did not think through this lie before getting  the Customs and Air Force to act. Why on earth, would the Customs tell  journalists that they did not know who imported the two armoured  helicopters? This play acting has exposed why the country has become a  dumping ground. The Customs Service knows nothing about importers.  That is a story for another day.
On January 29, 2017, embattled Minister of Transportation, Rotimi  Amaechi, a senior member of the APC Government and Former Rivers State  Governor confessed that he actually bought the two armoured  helicopters. This confession came only after Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike exposed the lies of the Customs Service through the  release of inter-governmental communication.
Sadly, Amaechi tried to divert attention from his failures as a  governor, blaming Governor Wike and immediate past President for the  non clearance of the helicopters. Luckily, Amaechi admitted that the  former President Goodluck Jonathan paid $15million for the said  aircraft. In his desperation to defend the lies of the APC Government,  he expectedly resorted to political blackmail and illogical  mudslinging.
But nobody is deceived. The funds used to purchase the armoured  helicopters belong to Rivers State. The former governor was compelled  to invest Rivers resources at the time because of the desperation to  improve security in the face of his failure to deliver good  governance.
Rivers State is fortunate that at the close of Amaechi’s failed era, a  transparent and pro-people leader has taken over the reins of  leadership. Therefore, the development deficits of the state are being  diligently addressed across the state.
Development projects have been liberalised. Every local government  area, irrespective of the political affiliations of her leaders now  have access to good governance. State-Wide consultation is taking  place on a regular basis and the governor is always at home.
The Rivers variant of the Amnesty Programme has been a huge success,  with a state in the south west already emulating Governor Wike. The  funding of the security agencies is second to none in the country.  Security in Rivers State can only get better.
Governor Wike has become a development revelation. A reference point  in the face of unbridled negative propaganda sponsored by the APC. He  is like the proverbial pot of soup that boils daily on the stove to  the consternation of the jealous neighbour. The more they plot, the  more Wike evaporates the aroma of good governance.
The more they struggle to distract him, the more focused he gets.
Is it not surprising that nobody is holding the Customs Service and the  Nigerian Air Force to account? Despite Amaechi’s admission, the  media and the civil society have remained quiet.
The planned assault on Rivers State died on arrival. The propaganda  attack dogs have been called back. The documents of the transactions  silenced the evil planners.      It is necessary to bring to the fore, how Governor Wike bursted the  custom-made lies of the Nigerian Customs Service. After the ill-fated  and poorly scripted press conference in Lagos on the two armoured  helicopters, the transparent governor brought the service back to  reality.
From the documents released, it was revealed that contrary to the  claims by the Customs Service, they were aware of the transaction. They  knew the owners of the helicopters. It was obvious that the Presidency   was also aware, having permitted the handover of the security  choppers to the Airforce.     For example, vide letter with reference number ,RVSG/GH/ACM/AF/VOL.1/001
March 14, 2016 , Governor Wike wrote to the Chief of Air  Staff: “In view of the special nature of the operations for which they  were acquired, the Rivers State Government considers it necessary to  place and or transfer the aircrafts to the custody and management of the  Nigerian Air Force.
“It is therefore, my pleasure to grant the Nigerian Air Force consent to  take possession and management of the two Bell 412 helicopters.
“The Rivers State Government will execute necessary documentation on the  management of the aircrafts in due course.”
Similarly, the office of the National Security Adviser vide a letter  with reference number NSA/452/S and signed by BRIGADIER GENERAL AT  FAMADEWA for the National Security Adviser on November 3, 2016 to the  Chief of Air Staff and copied Governor Wike declared thus: “I am  directed to respectfully refer to your correspondence NA/905/D/CAS dated  21 April 2016 on subject. I am to convey the National Security  Adviser’s approval for NAF to take custody and manage the 2 x BELL 412  Helicopters as requested by Rivers State Government.”
The above quoted texts of the said documents are explicit on what  transpired.
With the above responsible and patriotic communication between the  Rivers State Government and the Federal agencies, what then went wrong?  Why did the APC Government resolve to throw caution to the wind and  embarrass the security agencies by getting them tainted in unnecessary  politicisation of Rivers security ?
This custom-made lie was initiated for political reason. To ensure  that even if the aircrafts are handed over to the Air Force as  requested by Governor Wike and approved by the Presidency, the hand over   process is done in a manner to exlude Rivers State. Needless to say,  the APC Government will deploy these choppers to APC states.
It is pertinent to advise the spin doctors of the APC that the time  for unnecessary politicking is far gone. They should emulate Governor  Wike and deliver on democracy dividends. Of what benefit will it be to  the people that every single aspect of National life is politicised?     The sad aspect of the penchant to lie is that they show no remorse  when caught. Simply because they control sections of the traditional  media, they start throwing tantrums.
As they throw these deliberate tantrums, their sponsored hands in the  traditional media divert attention from the obvious fraud. You begin to  read reports like..Helicopters: Wike, Amaechi trade accusations…blame  Jonathan/Wike for my inability to clear helicopters etc. After a few  days, the topical report is buried under the well crafted deceit  game-plan.
The bottomline of the entire engagement is: Governor Wike formally  handed over the aircrafts to the Nigerian Air Force through the  Presidency after the APC Government refused to grant waiver for same to  be cleared for security purposes. The deliberate falsehood that has  now rubbished what is left of the Customs Service reputation, may  never be investigated.
In saner climes, all those involved in this official misinformation  would have lost their jobs by now. Instead, the matter has been swept  under the carpet for these jokers to continue as if nothing happened.
Written by Simeon Nwakaudu
