Pedro Obithe Labor Party’s presidential candidate in the last election, has expressed sadness at the Air Force helicopter crash that claimed the lives of 36 soldiers in Niger on Monday morning.
Mr. Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, made this known in a statement via his official X (formerly Twitter) account in Lagos on Friday.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) recalls that the Nigerian Air Force, on Thursday, announced that an MI-171 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed in the state of Niger.
A statement by Nigerian Air Force spokesman Edward Gabkwet, an air commodore, said the plane crashed in Chukuba Village, Niger state, and said a preliminary investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the plane crash.
Obi said the death of the soldiers, allegedly killed in a terrorist ambush in Niger, and the ill-fated military helicopter, on a rescue mission, in the same state was unfortunate and discouraging.
He expressed concern about the deplorable level of insecurity in most of the country that had continued to cost the nation lives and precious property with attendant economic costs.
Mr. Obi also expressed his sympathy for the families of the slain patriot soldiers who paid the ultimate price for their homeland in a very painful way, fighting against insecurity in the country.
“The continued loss of life, of our military and other citizens, due to insecurity is unbearable and sickening.
“We must come together as a people to subdue this monster of insecurity that threatens our collective existence, without which no development will be experienced in the country,” he said.
While commiserating with the military agencies over the sad incidents, Mr. Obi urged them not to be discouraged by the challenges they faced, but to see them as the inevitable path forward before achieving a secure nation for all.
He said: “I sympathize with our military agencies whose personnel have continued to pay the ultimate price for peace and security in our nation.
“I want you to continue to be brave and resilient in the fight. I would also like to encourage a full-scale investigation to unravel the cause of the helicopter crash as a way to prevent future incidents.”
The former Governor of Anambra reaffirmed his commitment to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians, adding that fighting insecurity in the country would always be his top priority.
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According to him, tackling insecurity squarely remains my priority in New Nigeria, and it should also be my priority for lasting peace and progress in Nigeria.
Finally, Mr. Obi prayed to God to grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort their families and comfort them as a nation for this great loss.
He said that they would never give up their nation, as it was their greatest heritage in whose service all their sacrifices became noble acts.
(YAYA)
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