Buhari, RCCG, CAN felicitate with Osinbajo
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has assured that it would be thorough with the investigation into the crash of an Agusta Westland 139 helicopter on landing in Kabba, Kogi State on Saturday, February 2 with 12 souls on board.
The aircraft marked 5N-PEJ and operated by Caverton Helicopters was conveying the vice president, Prof. Osinbajo and others to the state, but everyone escaped unscathed.
It was gathered that the vice president was scheduled to launch TraderMoni in Kabba and thereafter visit Okene in the central axis of the state and Idah in the eastern flank before returning to Abuja.
In a statement issued in Lagos, AIB’s commissioner, Mr. Akin Olateru appreciated the professionalism of the rescue team saying without its effort “there may have been recorded casualty and/or injury.”
“I am assuring the entire public that this investigation will be detailed, thorough and timely.
Accident Investigation is NOT to apportion blame; it is about FACT FINDING and making safety Recommendations with a view to preventing future occurrences.
“As the investigating agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your help. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip(s), relevant evidence, or information any member of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation,” he said.
“I would like to enjoin the press and the public please, to respect the privacy of the people involved and NOT to pre-empt the cause of the accident.
“AIB will release the preliminary report which will include factual information about the accident in a matter of days,” said Olateru.
Meanwhile, the vice president said no amount of thanksgiving and praises to God would be enough for saving his life and nine others in the helicopter incident.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of Grace, Lokoja, yesterday, Osinbajo said only God saved his life and those of others onboard the helicopter.
“It would have been breaking news on local and international media that Vice President Osinbajo and nine crew members died in a helicopter crash, but God did not allow such to happen.
“No amount of thanksgiving and praises to God would be enough for saving my life and nine crew on board. God is the one, who can do all things, and only Him can take the glory; we return the glory to Him.
“We are here to say thank you, thank you Jesus. We bless His name forever and ever,” he said.
Praying God to bless all the people who celebrated with him, the vice president said: “All I have to say is that we are grateful and we are moving to the next level; the Lord will uphold us to the next level and Kogi will be number one.”
In a live telecast from the RCCG headquarters, Lagos, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, asked the congregation to rise and give glory to God for saving Osinbajo’s life.
According to Adeboye, the devil wanted to take Osinabjo’s life, but God put the devil to shame.
He asked the congregation to specially appreciate God on behalf of the vice president and all the crew members for His supernatural protection, saying Nigeria would not mourn.
In his sermon entitled: ‘Carriers of God’s glory,’ Adeboye said for anybody to carry the glory of God, such a person must be a true child of God and live a life of holiness.
Taking his lesson from Matthew 5: 14- 15, he said: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
“As a carrier of His glory, anywhere you arrive, darkness will automatically disappear.
“When God begins to use you, the glory belongs to God and you must learn to always give glory to God.
“Do not ascribe the glory to yourself because it is not yours; it belongs to God,” Pastor Adeboye counseled.
Similarly, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) felicitated with Osinbajo for surviving the crash.
The president of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle said in a statement by his spokesman Pastor Adebayo Oladeji: “The leadership of CAN is grateful to God and rejoice with the Federal Government and Osinbajo.
“We give glory to God for sparing the life of the Vice President and his team from the helicopter crash while mobilising support for his party in preparation for the coming general elections.”
Ayokunle recalled that Osinbajo had similar experience in 2018 while visiting the Nigeria Customs College in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
“It is our prayers that God will continue to watch over him and other top government functionaries in Jesus’ Name,” he was quoted as saying.
He urged the technical team or those responsible for the certification of the aircrafts and helicopters in the country used by the government officials to be more meticulous so as to avoid putting their lives in danger.
For his part, President Muhammadu Buhari thanked God for sparing the life of Osinbajo and others on-board the helicopter.
Spokesman for the president, Mr. Garba Shehu in a statement quoted Buhari as saying: “We give glory to Almighty God for sparing your life. I’m impressed by your tenacious spirit which enabled you to continue on your campaign engagement, despite the shock of the crash.
“It takes tenacious spirit and amazing spiritual strength to survive a helicopter crash without being paralyzed by its impact.
“I’m proud of our partnership and your unalloyed loyalty and your commitment to the service of Nigeria.
“That you proceeded with your engagements, despite the accident, is a testimony of your passion for service to country and a reflection of your admirable spiritual fervour.
“May God continue to protect you and all those on board with you, bless your lives and grant you more good health and long life to serve our country even more.”
