The spokesperson for Osun State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, has confirmed that Governor Ademola Adeleke and some of his aides recently narrowly escaped an aircraft crash. The incident occurred on September 5th when their aircraft was attempting to take off from Lagos for a journey to Abuja.
Rasheed alleged that the engine of the aircraft may have been tampered with and suggested the possibility of sabotage. He emphasized that the aircraft was well-maintained and had a highly skilled technical crew, and it was not an unused platform where birds could build nests.
He further refuted claims that birds’ nests were the cause of the incident, stating that birds’ nests are typically made with straws, not binding wires as seen in this case. The incident was reportedly averted shortly after boarding and within two minutes of commencing taxiing on the tarmac.
Rasheed assured the public that Governor Adeleke and his aides were safe, with no injuries or outward explosion on the plane.
Both the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau have initiated a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The authorities are determined to determine the cause of the incident and take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, expressed relief that the incident ended without harm and committed to implementing the findings and recommendations of the investigation in accordance with aviation regulations and global best practices.