The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has ordered the suspension of the Air Force officer who prevented Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state from entering the Makurdi Air Force Base.
Ortom was at the Air Force Base on Saturday morning to receive Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who was transiting through from Abuja to Taraba State where he represented the President as Visitor to the Federal University in Wukari.
Amao ordered the officer’s suspension (name withheld) on hearing of the incident, immediately assigning a new air officer to take charge.
The Benue State Governor was however prevented from accessing the base against normal protocol that would alert a state governor when the President or the VP were visiting or passing-by their areas.
Ortom had received a protocol alert and decided to personally receive the VP who was in transit.
He was however shocked when he was prevented. He proceeded to address the media on the matter.
Speaking to journalists at Government House in Makurdi, Ortom said the action of the Air Force officer is “unacceptable, breach of protocol, and politics taken too far.”
Sources close to the governor said he also complained to federal authorities including the VP, who was also surprised at the action of the Air Force officer and demanded an explanation. It was in the aftermath of this, that the Chief of Air Staff ordered the officer suspended.
Eventually the Governor Ortom returned to the Air Force Base and received the VP on his return from Taraba.
