Tinubu campaign: 30 private, chartered planes fly VIPs and bigwigs to Plateau
The Yakubu Gowon Airport recorded over 95 aircraft arrivals and departures of private and commercial planes, which transported APC bigwigs, top government officials, and other Very Important Personalities into and out of the Plateau State capital, according to data obtained from aviation authorities.
Over 15 regional aircraft and turboprops also landed at the airport as roughly 17 private jets and helicopters came for the august political gathering.
The Bombardier Challenger 601 operated by Air First Hospitality with American registration number N320MK, the Hawker Siddeley HS 125 operated by Trobell with registration number 5N-ALG, and the Learjet 45 operated by Max Air with registration number 5N-BLW are a few of the opulent private jets that made an airport landing.
Others include the West Link Challenger 601 with the registration 5N-PDA, the United Aviation HS125 with the registration 5N-AMM, the Gyro Air HS125 with the registration 5N-AUB, and the Global Aviation HS125 with the registration 5NBNM.
The list also includes the Gulfstream IV owned by Triaxell with the registration number 5N-PZE, the Gulfstream IV owned by Nest Oil with the registration number 5N-BYO, the Learjet 45 owned by Mounthill Aviation with the registration number 5N-BZS, the Challenger 601 owned by IZY Air with the registration number 5N-1ZY, the Beechcraft B190 owned by Dornier Aviation with the registration number 5N-BYW, and the Dornier Aviation D328
Max Air Embraer E135 with registration number 5N-BXK, Air Peace Embraer E145, Jet Support Embraer E135, and Aero Tak's E135 with registration number 5NLRK are a few other regional aircraft have landed in Jos. KS R3 Global's Embraer E145 with the registration number 5N-LOS, Jaz Aviation's Embraer 135 with the registration number 5N-JLA, ValueJet's Bombardier Challenger CRJ9, and Max Air's Boeing 737 are some additional aircraft.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired), the President, attended the occasion as well. The PAF Boeing 737 with the registration number 5N-FGT and the PAF Nigerian Air Force helicopter with the registration number HIPO04 are two examples of the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet.
A PAF helicopter with the registration number 5N-FGI and a NAF F900 with the registration number NGR961 were also on the ground at the airport.
According to research, there is not enough parking at the airport to accommodate all the aircraft that land in the state capital. As a result, several of the planes were obliged to make the short 30-minute trip from Plateau to Abuja in order to park. It was simpler for the VIP jet pilots to return and pick up their passengers as a result. This came after several of the arriving planes parked in an old, empty aircraft hangar at the airport.
Though Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party had roughly 15 private and chartered jets land at Uyo airport in Akwa Ibom State for the official launch of the party's presidential campaign, Tinubu's presidential inauguration saw more private and charter jets.
Activities in Jos Stadium
Party leaders expressed confidence that the party's standard bearer will easily win the 2023 election as Tinubu's presidential campaign was taking place inside Rwang Pam stadium.
The aircraft that transported dignitaries from around the nation to the state capital of Jos, where they were then driven in motorcades to the Rwang Pam stadium, the campaign's location, were spotted by our correspondent who was at the airport there.
At the event, notable Nigerians included the Senate President, Ahmed Lawal, the governors of Cross River, Ben Ayade, Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, Yobe, Mai Buni, Imo, Hope Uzodimma, Plateau, Simon Lalong, Kogi, Yahaya Bello, and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa).
Others were the former governors of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar; Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Borno State, Modu Ali-Sheriff; and Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the APC presidential candidate, and Hajiya Nana Shettima, the spouse of the vice presidential candidate, spoke to the crowd at the rally as well. Ministers and members of the APC National Working Committee were also there.
The APC flag was presented to the presidential candidate during the event by Buhari, who was aided by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu. In his speech, the candidate pledged to neutralize terrorists and recalibrate the country's security architecture.
The President also committed to leading the party's 2023 presidential campaign.
References
Punchng, 'Tinubu campaign: VIPs hit Plateau with 30 private, chartered jets' (online) <https://punchng.com/tinubu-campaign-vips-hit-plateau-with-30-private-chartered-jets/>.
