LEADERS WHO CAN’T LEAD BY GOOD EXAMPLE: Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State who disrespected FAAN and PTF protocols at the airport
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has accused the Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, of not leading by example as the governor vehemently refused to observe the airport security and public health protocols as directed by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Fintiri it was reported did not respect the laid down guidelines for all passengers using the airports as he did not allow his temperature to be checked or allow himself to be sanitized in compliance with the directives of both the PTF as well as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The agency said Fintiri arrived Port Harcourt International Airport aboard aircraft 5N-IZY, at 17:08 hours on July 14, 2020 with eight people in his entourage who also disrespected the advisories just as the governor did. Fintiri’s team was also reported to have driven right through the barricades up to the terminal building ignoring traffic and aviation security instructions when they came to receive him.
This breach of federal government COVID-19 directives by a serving governor who ought to show leadership by example the agency said, is unacceptable, and as such it has also been duly escalated. Other governors like Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who also arrived at the airport took his time to obey all protocols.
FAAN said in a statement, “We strongly condemn the conduct of the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who arrived Port Harcourt International Airport aboard aircraft 5N-IZY, at 17:08 hours on July 14, 2020 with eight others, and who flagrantly refused to observe the Airport Security and Public Health protocols as directed by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 by refusing to have his temperature checked, or being sanitised by the health officials.
“His whole entourage of eight did exactly as he did. The team that came to receive them drove right through the barricades up to the terminal building ignoring traffic and Aviation Security instructions. This irresponsible act endangers all other airport users, it is unacceptable, and as such it has also been duly escalated. FAAN hereby cautions all airport users, especially our esteemed VIPs , to please respect the Presidential directive by observing airport security and public health travel protocols put in place to protect all air travelers against acts of unlawful interference, infection and the spread of the covid-19 pandemic,” the agency said.
Fintiri is the second-high profile person that has been accused by the agency of flouting guidelines this week. On Wednesday, July 15, FAAN accused the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari for violating public health procedures on travels at the Aminu Kano International Airport on Saturday July 11, 2020.
The agency said Yari refused to adhere to the protocols and procedures put in place by the Federal Government through the PTF on COVID-19 by forcefully pushing away an officer of the Environment department when he insisted that his luggage must be disinfected. The former Governor reportedly refused that his luggage will be disinfected, saying that the airport officer should have known he is a VIP but, the Minister of Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika, the COVID-19 flight guidelines were approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
