For the second time in eight months, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo narrowly cheated death in another helicopter crash in the line of duty, causing President Muhammadu Buhari to thank God and praise “the tenacious spirit of Vice President Osinbajo,” who survived the latest helicopter crash during a during a campaign tour in Kabba, Kogi State on Saturday. The vice-president and nine others escaped unhurt when a hired helicopter conveying them to Kabba, crash-landed. Osinbajo, who was scheduled to visit royal fathers in Kabba, Okene, and Idah has been receiving solidarity messages from within and outside the country since the incident occurred.
In in a telephone call to Osinbajo, the President said: “We give glory to Almighty God for sparing your life. I’m impressed by your tenacious spirit which enabled you to continue on your campaign engagement, despite the shock of the crash. It takes tenacious spirit and amazing spiritual strength to survive a helicopter crash without being paralyzed by its impact. I’m proud of our partnership and your unalloyed loyalty and your commitment to the service of Nigeria. That you proceeded with your engagements, despite the accident, is a testimony of your passion for service to country and a reflection of your admirable spiritual fervor. May God continue to protect you and all those on board with you, bless your lives and grant you more good health and long life to serve our country even more.”
Osinbajo, at a Thanksgiving service in Lokoja, said no amount of thanksgiving and praises to God would be enough for saving his life in Saturday’s helicopter crash. The chopper, which was expected to land at Kabba Township Stadium a short while after that of his advance team crash-landed when the propeller pulled out from the craft creating pandemonium as party faithful watched with bated breath. One of the accounts of the incident has it that poor visibility caused the helicopter crash.
A source in the vice president’s team said as the craft made an approach to land on the dusty, bare field, massive dust was thrown up causing the pilot to lose visibility. And as he swerved towards the edge of the stadium where a bus was packed, the blade hit the bus and the helicopter landed on its side and threw up further dust. The source said that security men, who were on hand swung into action and got the occupants out without hitches and in good time. Unfazed by the near fatal encounter, the vice president returned all glory to God for keeping him and his team safe, and added that Next Level engagements would continue.
Prof. Osinbajo headed first to Kabba, and while landing at the Kabba Stadium, the helicopter suddenly skidded sideways until it halted on its side few meters away from the intended resting spot. Alongside VP Osinbajo, the Minister of State for Labor and Productivity, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, senior presidential aides, security officials and the crew; there were a total of 12 people on board. Everyone came out safely after the incident.
The ruling APC in a statement expressed gratitude to Almighty God over Osinbajo’s survival saying it prays for continuous safety of our leaders and general progress of our great country. A statement by its national publicity secretary, Malam Lanre Issa Onilu, said it was heartwarming that Osinbajo is safe and sound along with his aides after the crash.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which expressed shock over the crash called for a thorough investigation into the traumatic incident, adding that the safety of our leaders, and of course, all Nigerians, must be guaranteed, especially at this critical time. The party urged all Nigerians irrespective of creed, ethnicity and political affiliation, to continue to pray for God’s continued intervention in our national life.
It should be recalled that on June 7, 2018, a chopper conveying Osinbajo from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, in Abuja, forcefully landed few seconds after it took off. After that incident, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, explained that his principal avoided using his chopper from Gwagwalada where he had gone for an official assignment back to the Presidential Villa due to technical reasons.
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