Guardian

Probe in full swing

Flags fly at half-mast

Tambuwal, govs, others mourn loss of citizens

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has declared a three-day period of national mourning for the lives lost during yesterday’s Dana Air plane crash in Lagos.

The President, who has cancelled all his public engagements scheduled for tomorrow, has also directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast for the three days of national mourning.

In addition, the President has ordered the fullest possible investigation into the crash.

To execute the President’s directive, the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogienwonyi, yesterday left Abuja for Lagos to oversee the crash investigations and present an interim report to the Federal Government as quickly as possible.

According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, the President joined all Nigerians in mourning the citizens lost to the plane crash, “which has sadly plunged the nation into further sorrow on a day when Nigerians were already in grief over the loss of many other innocent lives in the church bombing in Bauchi State.”

Abati added: “President Jonathan assures air travellers in the country that every possible effort will be made to ensure that the right lessons are learnt from the tragic loss of valuable lives in today’s (yesterday) plane crash and that further measures will be put in place to boost aviation safety in the country.  “He prays that God Almighty will grant the families of the victims of the plane crash the courage and fortitude to bear their irreparable loss.”

Also, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has described the crash of Dana Airline aircraft in Lagos on Sunday as “shocking and painful.”

In a statement, Tambuwal “condoled with the families of the victims and prayed to the Almighty God to grant them eternal rest.”

Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condoled with the families of the Dana crash victims, those of the Bauchi suicide bombing and Saturday’s crash involving a Nigerian cargo plane in Accra, Ghana.

In a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, Abubakar said: “It is unimaginable that the country could be visited with these tragedies that have left many families bruised and broken.”

According to him, “it is our collective duty as Nigerians to help the affected families deal with their losses.”

Also, governors across the federation yesterday expressed shock over the incident and joined the nation in mourning the crash victims.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has described Sunday’s twin tragedy of the flight crash in Lagos and the bomb blast at the Living Faith Church in Bauchi as “unfortunate and national disasters of monumental proportions.”

Ahmed, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, said the two incidents called “for sober reflection on the state of affairs in the country.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State described the death of the crash victims as “a great loss to the nation.”

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, the governor said: “I wish to convey the deepest condolence of the people and government of Edo State as well as my personal commiseration to the families of the victims. While we cannot question God, we pray He lays His consoling hand on the families left behind and grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed.”

On his part, Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha, called on Nigerians to pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives on board of the ill-fated Dana Air. He prayed “the Almighty God to grant their families and the nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has condoled with the families of the crash victims.

Fashola, in a statement, also expressed “shock and deep sorrow that the expectations of the families to welcome their loved ones at the end of the journey were cut short in such an abrupt and unexpected manner.”

He also condoled with residents of the crash site in Iju-Ishaga whose houses and property were either damaged or destroyed as the plane crashed.

And National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, also commiserated with the families of the crash victims and the entire nation over the tragedy.

In a statement, Tukur stated: “The entire members of our party share in the grief, the pain and the anguish of the families of those who have lost their loved ones, their confidants, their sisters and brothers; their fathers and mothers; breadwinners and employers; and all those who are affected by this national calamity.

“We (all Nigerians) are united in our grief and our condolences go to you all as we pray that Almighty God will in His infinite mercy and compassion console and comfort you at this most trying period of your life and give the bereaved families the fortitude to bear their irreparable loss.”