Posted by By Kola Adepoju on
WHEN I heard of the crash, what came to my mind was that most of the victims, if not all, must have said to their relations that we are coming home'. Is this (scene of the crash) home?"
WHEN I heard of the crash, what came to my mind was that most of the victims, if not all, must have said to their relations that we are coming home'. Is this (scene of the crash) home?"
These were the words and poser of President Olusegun Obasanjo as he toured site of the tragic plane crash at Lisa, Ifo, in Ogun State, where a Bellview aircraft crashed last Saturday killing all 117 persons on board.
His lamentation came even as a lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, who had earlier visited the site where he lost a niece, Mrs Queen Morrison (nee Ozekhome) said he had no confidence in the foreign experts the government had invited to help unravel mystery behind the crash.
Speaking at an inter faith prayer service for the repose of the souls of the victims at Lisa, Obasanjo regretted that the victims who left the Ikeja Airport with the hope of returning to their relations died in the crash.
Going philosophical, he said "that should serves as a lesson to every one of us because whether we like it or not, there will be a day when our destination will be cut short."
Obasanjo, who noted that the crash affected every family in the country charged Nigerians to use the prevailing unity in sorrowing and mourning the death to bury differences and be united.
Besides, he charged them "not to mourn like people that have no hope in God but to do otherwise, because both Christianity and Islam tought that there is life after death."
According to him, "while we are mourning and sorrowing together, we must bury whatever may be our differences and be united."
"But should we continue to mourn like people that have no belief in God and I know that both Islamic and Christian religion give us hope that is beyond death," he added.
The president, charged relations of the deceased and Nigerians at large, to realise that "there is not much we can do for the dead except take care of what they left behind."
Thereafter, Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel proceeded to scene of the crash and laid wreaths in honour of the dead.
Decked in a two pieces "agbada" Obasanjo, who arrived scene of the crash at 11.45 a.m. was received by Governors of Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun states along with the deputy governor of Lagos State.
He was accompanied by the Ministers of Finance, Aviation, Information and National Orientation and Police Affairs.
Information and National Orientation Minister, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jnr) who had earlier visited the scene wept like a baby describing the crash as too tragic for him to bear.
Earlier in his sermon at the inter faith service, General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. (Dr) Wilson Badejo described death as a gateway to better things, especially paradise.
Gov Daniel read the only lesson of the service from the book of Job Chapter 14 verses 1 to 14.