RE: Helicopter crash

THE greatest lesson that can be learned from the avoidable tragic crash of the Nigerian Navy Augusta helicopter in which six people on board were killed last week is that the trouble with Nigeria remains leadership at all levels as Prof. Chinua Achebe noted in 1983. This is sad, even as the nation mourns the dead and commiserates with the families and friends of the victims. The ugly incident marks another unwholesome reflection of the collapse of governance in the country. Nigerians deserve full accountability.

To begin with, the helicopter in question belongs to the Nigerian Navy; and by extension to Nigerians. How a public property strayed into the hands of private individuals for the transaction of personal businesses is surprising and quite unfortunate.

The funeral ceremony to which the helicopter was committed was not a public affair. It was totally private. Nigerians are, therefore, interested in knowing the official(s) who authorised the release and use of the helicopter and under what terms. Was it for free or at a fee? Moreover, being a military helicopter, under what circumstances could it be made available for civil activities such as burial ceremonies? Are such conditions fully satisfied in this case? Furthermore, now that the helicopter has been lost from an already under-resourced fleet, Nigerians want to know who bears the cost: the taxpayers’ again, or those responsible for the act? The concerned authorities, especially the Nigerian Navy, Defence Headquarters and the Commander-in-Chief (CIC) of the Armed Forces of the Federation, President Jonathan Goodluck, need to respond to these pertinent questions.

If it is true, as reported, that the helicopter had been overused, it would amount to gross abuse by those who authorised and supervised the flight of the helicopter, which allegedly crashed on its 15th trip of the day. In this connection, even the Aviation authorities too cannot be innocent bystanders. Aviation laws are specific about expected checks that must be done after every trip, which is not possible with such number of trips a day. There is, of course, a dire need to investigate the possibility of sabotage which, if substantial, can only aggravate the fact of overuse, itself a monumental violation of international best practices in the aviation industry. Such must never be condoned again.

The crash has again underscored the unacceptable double standard in official treatment of Nigerians across the various social strata of the society. In this instance, much of the concern expressed has centred on the late Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Owoeye Azazi, with only partial reference to their aides and the pilots that lost their lives in the crash. The ‘others’ were portrayed as having less than equal rights to the late public officers. Sad enough, when the reality of the sudden death of the victims begins to bite, the families of these ‘others’ will likely be worse for it. Nigerians should be alert to prevent further injustice to the victims other than the late Mr. Yakowa and Gen. Azazi.

The crash epitomises, in a dramatic fashion, the rampaging culture of impunity in the country. It is impunity personified that Patience Jonathan, wife of the president, while on a condolence visit to the wife of the late General Azazi on December 19, reportedly came in a presidential jet. Her trip was purely private and she has no business flying the presidential jet whenever the president is not on board. Who bears the cost? What a monumental waste of taxpayers’ money amid culture of impunity.

Official responses from the Presidency, Senate and Governors’ Forum, to unravel the mystery behind the air mishap, though not totally unwarranted, are not convincing. For one, the reports of inquiries in the past were never placed in the public domain.

As such, Nigerians were always in the dark as to the findings of the committees. Nothing so far suggests that this will be different. For another, the multiplicity of committees of inquiry is an official invitation to confusion that will sound the death knell on the reports, especially in the event of conflicting findings. There should be a consolidated investigation under the leadership of the Nigerian Navy, whose report should be submitted to the Defence Headquarters. The Chief of Naval staff, under whose portfolio this travesty happened, should not be involved in the probe. He should, in fact, have resigned immediately after the accident, as would have been the case in some other societies.

The reports of such an enquiry should be made public and those found to have compromised service integrity made to face the full wrath of the law.