..demands Independent Judicial Enquiry
By Agunwa Uzendu, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over the crash of another military plane belonging to the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) in Kaduna on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 with some officers reportedly killed in the incident.
The PDP in a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Olugunagba said that there is a growing public apprehension of “possible security compromises and complicity in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, leading to incessant unexplained military aircraft crashes in the country in the last seven years.
“The disturbing trend is the fact that after each crash, the APC government comes up with a public announcement to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mishap but typical of the administration, such investigation went cold”.
The main opposition party observed that the pattern gives credence to the strong suspicion among Nigerians that there is complicity or sabotage in the national security architecture including the Airforce which is very critical to any meaningful fight against terrorism.
“In May last year, just eleven months ago, a NAF aircraft crashed around Kaduna International Airport, killing the then Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers.
“It is instructive to note that our nation has experienced no fewer than 11 unexplained military air crashes since the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government took over power in 2015”.
The PDP demanded for a system-wide independent judicial enquiry to conduct an investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the incessant crashes of military aircrafts especially in the face of worsening terrorism attacks in our country.
“This demand is imperative and consistent with the demands by Nigerians who have lost faith in the ability of the APC government to conduct a transparent and credible investigation into any matter, particularly those relating to our national security.
“Our party is saddened with this trend of event and hereby condoles with the Nigerian Airforce, the families of the officers involved in the air crash and prays for the repose of the souls of the departed officers”.
The PDP extolled the courageous military officers and charged them not to be deterred by the sad and unfortunate incident but to remain vigilant and focused in their constitutional duty of protecting our nation especially at this critical point in our national life.
