ACN’s chartered plane not sabotaged – FG

Date: 10-03-2011 11:59 am (14 years ago) | Author: Chukwuka Chudi-Oji
- at 10-03-2011 11:59 AM (14 years ago)
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The Federal Government on Wednesday denied a claim by the Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation that an accident involving an aircraft bearing the Vice Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Fola Adeola, at the Bauchi Airport was an act of sabotage.

“No plane crash-landed, the aircraft had already landed and was taxing before the incident happened. There was no crash-landing, no sabotage”, Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, told journalists at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja.

The FEC meeting was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The FG stand coincided with the release of the report of preliminary investigation into the incident by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The report said eight goats strayed across the runway and that the aircraft hit and killed two of the goats. It also said the flap on the left hand side of the aircraft was damaged.

A chartered aircraft with number 5BN-BNR conveying Adeola and other party leaders, including the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Boss Mustapha, and former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Yusuf Alli, reportedly crash-landed and ran into herd of rams and goats at the Bauchi Airport runway on Tuesday.

Another aircraft conveying the ACN Presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, and other party chieftains, including a former governor of Lagos State and leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, was also said to have hovered in the air for about one hour while the runway was being hurriedly cleared of the rams and goats.

The ACN chieftains were in Bauchi for the party’s presidential campaign rally.

The Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation had said the incident was an act of sabotage and asked for urgent investigation.

However, the FG said the chartered Hawker Sydney HS-125 aircraft conveying Adeola and other chieftains of the ACN had landed safely at the airport before the invading rams ran onto the runway.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, also described the ACN’s presidential campaign organisation’s accusation as “undue politicisation” of the incident.

Maku said, “Council received a report from the Minister of Aviation concerning the incident at the Bauchi Airport.

“Council expressed regrets over the incident and also expressed its best wishes to the ACN over the incident.

“Council is happy that the passengers of the aircraft came out hale and hearty, otherwise it would have been a very sad development for our country.

“From the report we received, the aircraft had already landed before some sheep strayed to the runway.
http://www.nigerianewstoday.com.ng/nigeria-acn%e2%80%99s-chartered-plane-not-sabotaged/

Posted: at 10-03-2011 11:59 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie

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