BY PRINCELY ONYENWE,IMO
Following the reoccurrence of a military aircraft crash in Nigeria, Nigerian youths under the aegis of Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria (ELFON), has called on the Federal Government to ground all existing AIRCRAFT for replacement with recent era high technological facilities.
9News Reports that this call was made by Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria (ELFON), led by Amb. Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel having noted that the spate of military plane crashes in the country had become worrisome and that urgent steps must be taken to forestall further occurrence.
In a two page condolence letter to President Muhammadu Buhari from the ELFON President, he affirmed that Emerging Leaders received with shock the news of the plane crash that claimed the life of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others, who were on an official assignment in Kaduna State to attend the passing out parade at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.
Godstime also extended his condolences to the families of the fallen heroes as he prayed to God Almighty to grant them strength to bear the loss.
He also prayed God to grant the souls of the dead officers and airforce personnels eternal rest.
Part of the letter read thus:
“Close to 25 military officers have lost their lives in three crashes across the country in the last three months, and this is totally unacceptable to the Emerging Leaders of our dear Country,” he Said.
“Recalled that on Feb. 21, a Minna-bound military jet crashed, killing all 7 people on board; in less than six weeks, particularly on April 2, another Alpha Light Attack Jet went missing in the air, and later reported crashed.
In another seven weeks, May 21, another crash of a military aircraft occurred and this time killing the Chief of Army Staff and other senior officers. No military anywhere in the world should pretend that it is okay to record plane crashes on bi-monthly bases, and no country or people can accept that.
Emerging Leaders Forum of Nigeria therefore, demand the result of earlier investigations published and a military Committee of Enquiry empanelled to investigate the incessant crashes. All military aircrafts should be overhauled, procurement and replacements should also be made”,He said.
According to Godstime, the frequency of military aircraft crashes in the country has slowed down the fight against terrorism.
He regretted that major assets relevant to the prosecution of the war against terror were continuously coming in harm’s way.
“The morale of our soldiers is being dampened by these happenings. While this could be considered an act of nature, it is becoming worrisome.
Pragmatic steps must therefore be taken to forestall further occurrences so as not to ridicule the war against terror.
Recall too that, the country’s first female pilot Tolulope Arotile, that was very instrumental to the decimation of terrorist cells in the North East and North West suffered a similar fate in an Air Base that was presumably supposed to be a safe place for all persons talk more of military personnel.
While mourning the COAS and other promising officers and others killed in their service to motherland, we urge the government not to give room for enemies and saboteurs of the war against terror to have the final laugh,” Godstime maintained.
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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