Crash unites ex-ministers with Agagu family

OCTOBER 4, 2013  

Just as the news of the crash of an aircraft conveying the body of a former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, broke on the social media on Thursday morning, some eminent Nigerians have taken to online platforms to commiserate with the families of those affected in the incident.

The 30-seat plane, belonging to Associated Airlines and carrying Agagu’s body from Lagos to Akure, was said to have crashed around 9.20am immediately after take-off into the compound of a private firm around the Murtala Mohammed International Airport access gate.

Prolific Twitter and Facebook users employed the hashtags — #Agagu, #LagosPlaneCrash and #AgaguCrash to monitor as well as offer condolences to the bereaved families.

Agagu’s former colleagues at the Federal Executive Council, when he held sway as the minister of aviation, Nollyhood acts, as well as performing musicians were not left out in the online monitoring of the search and rescue operations going on at the crash site.

The ill-fated aircraft reportedly had on board the first son of the late governor, Feyi; Ondo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Deji Falae and 18 other people, including crew members.

 Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was a co-cabinet member with Agagu between 1999 and 2001, described the crash as “a very sad news.”

“This is very sad news coming from Lagos. My thoughts are with the Agagu family. I pray for strength for all families (whose relations are) involved in this tragedy. And speedy recovery for survivors. So sad,” Atiku said in a Twitter post.

Also, a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, offered prayers via her Twitter handle. While admonishing the grieving families, she said only God could comfort those who lost their loved ones in the crash.

“In moments like this, we must draw strength from the power of our faith in the unquestionable goodness of God. As we mourn the dead, may the God of all grace envelope the grieving families with His comfort on all sides,” Ezekwesili said.

 A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, in his condolence message wrote, “From God we came, and to Him we shall all return. May God comfort the families of Dr. Segun Agagu and those that lost loved ones today. Amen.”

Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, who also joined thousands of Nigerians mourning the cases of incessant crashes, calls for prayers.

She said, “I’m so short of words! Hmmm. So sad.  Can’t even imagine it. Ha! This is sad! May the souls of those who died in the Lagos plane crash rest in perfect peace.”

R&B artiste, Banky W, while still trying to get over the shock, said on Twitter that his experience about crashes and accidents showed that those who travel day in day out both by road and by air without hitches should count themselves lucky.

“May God help their families (to) bear the losses. We travel so much these days, by plane, car, etc and we take it for granted. Thank God for journey mercies oh Lord; have mercy on us all. Amen. Sad day!”

Nigerian hip hop artiste, MI, on his Twitter handle wrote, “So much death in recent weeks. May God’s peace rest upon the mourning! (sic) And may His mercy rest upon the living!”

Meanwhile, the daughter of a former military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, Gumsu, has dispelled the rumour which made the rounds on the social media that a son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gbenga, was aboard the ill-fated plane.

Gumsu, after having a BlackBerry Messenger chat with Gbenga, posted a screen shot of her conversation with him on her Twitter handle. In the screen shot, Gbenga wrote, “Thanks, I’m safe and well.”

However, Nigerians who followed the updates of the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, on Facebook, for official information on the crash have urged her to set necessary machinery in motion and put an end to the near incessant plane crashes in the country.

“When will our airspace be safe? Don’t they have domestic flights in other African countries like South Africa? Do their aircrafts drop from the sky like ours? May God forgive our negligence,” one Dele-Francis Ifenowo wrote on the Facebook page of the aviation minister.