Still on the crashed helicopter: My husband was the recipient!

First from right; Olusola Obada

The husband of the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Felix Obada, escaped death by a whisker at Ogbia in Bayelsa State on Dec. 15, 2012.

An investigation showed that the naval helicopter ‘Helo 07,’ which was involved in the crash, was actually released to pick Obada, who was at the burial ceremony in Bayelsa.

But Obada had already left the venue of the ceremony after waiting for 30 minutes for the helicopter to take him back to Port Harcourt when Azazi, who got there before him, was picked up for the 22-minute flight.

It was strongly speculated that the crew of the ill-fated helicopter might have decided to pick up Azazi for the flight to the Port Harcourt airport because of his high profile in the military.  

It was gathered that Azazi was at the landing space to board a Calverton helicopter, but decided to go with the naval helicopter which arrived first.

Obada, who was said to have been disturbed by the 30-minute delay of the helicopter, was trying to locate the landing space when the news filtered in that a helicopter carrying Yakowa and Azazi was missing.

It was learnt that Yakowa was prevailed upon to wait behind by the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, who was to host him in Yenagoa.

Yakowa was said to have turned down Dickson’s overtures on the grounds that he was working on a paper which he was to deliver somewhere in Abuja.

It was gathered that the late governor, whose helicopter was billed to land in a few minutes’ time, later decided to go with the former National Security Adviser, Azazi.