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| The late father and son |
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi, made this known on Thursday in Akure just as a member of the Agagu family, Chief Sehindemi Oguntoye, said the community had premonition that a tragedy would occur before the burial of the former governor.
Alabi said, "We have just consulted with the family and it has been decided that they would go ahead with the burial. This is more so that his son, the son-in-law and (Chief Olusegun) Obasanjo's son survived the crash.
"We are also aware that the casket bearing Agagu's body was not affected by the crash."
He quoted the family as saying, "while we sympathise with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the crash, we will go ahead with the burial."
The interment was scheduled for Friday (today) at his home town in Iju-Odo, Okitipupa Local Government Area.
Agagu's kinsman, Chief Oguntoye, who is also the Ojomo of Osooroland, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Iju-Odo, that the family held a prayer session after it was warned of an impending tragedy before the burial.
He said, "The community had been informed of an impending tragedy and the community had held a vigil to avert it. The vigil even ended today (Thursday).
"It was a big tragedy for Iju-Odo community. We had before the death of Dr. Agagu lost our traditional ruler, and now a plane crash which involves our loved ones.''
He, however, urged the community to be fervent in prayers to prevent further tragedies.
The residents of the community were in pensive mood, with many of them gathering in front of their houses discussing the incident.
St. Paul's Anglican Church, Iju-Odo has been and renovated for the burial service scheduled for Friday while major roads leading into the town had been rehabilitated.
The grave where Agagu will be buried in the church cemetery has also been decorated to give him a befitting farewell.
He extended condolences to all families who lost members in the crash and the government and people of Ondo State who were plunged into sorrow while preparing to bury their former governor.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: "The President feels and shares the grief and pain of the Agagu family as they grapple with the further loss of beloved relatives and associates so soon after losing their husband, father and mentor."
"He prays that God Almighty will comfort the Agagu family, as well as their relatives and friends, and grant them the divine grace they will undoubtedly require to overcome the trauma of this most trying time."
"President Jonathan views the plane crash as most unfortunate and regrettable, even with the concerted efforts of the Federal Government to enhance aviation safety in the country.
He, therefore, ordered a thorough investigation of the crash by all relevant agencies with a view to determining the cause and taking further actions, as may become necessary.
The President also summoned Aviation Minister Stella Oduah to the Presidential Villa following the crash. The call came as she prepared to brief the media on the tragic incident yesterday.
The briefing was suspended as Oduah said: "I am sorry to have come late but I will tell you that I just received a call from the Villa and I need to attend to it."
In the Minister's already prepared speech made available to reporters by her Special Assistant (Media), Joe Obi,
Mrs Oduah said the number of persons aboard the aircraft as at time of departure was 20, including the crew.
She added that the Fire Service Department, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) immediately drafted a team of rescuers at the crash and were able to stop the inferno.
She said: "The control tower immediately activated the crash alarm of the airport as the first step of the emergency response procedure. The first responder immediately proceeded to the crash site.
"The FAAN fire service department, ambulances and other relevant emergency apparatus successfully extinguished the fire within 2 minutes despite the surging crowd."
Oduah said relevant authorities had started to contact families of the victims stressing that information about identities of the victims would be made available later.
She said the Black Box of the aircraft had been located and already in possession of the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB).
According to her, further activities which involve identification of the cause of crash would be jointly conducted by the AIB and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as she commiserated with families of the deceased.
"While it is too early to determine the cause of the accident, we urge the public to be patient while the investigation progresses. I assure the public that the investigation will be thorough and that our airspace remains safe and secure," Oduah added.
Speaking during a press briefing with journalists at the Department of State in Washington, DC yesterday, spokesperson of the White House Ms. Marie Harf, Deputy said that the United States government would not relent in its efforts to ensure that terrorism was eradicated in Nigeria.
Asked why the United States preferred to assist Nigeria to tackle Boko Haram and abandoned Mali when both countries are facing the same security challenge, Ms. Harf said: "Well, actually, I think it's really comparing apples and oranges here, right? Because, as you know, the assistance was cut off to Mali as the result of a specific political situation in the country, that we ended assistance in response to a very specific situation.
"Look, in Nigeria, obviously, we remain deeply committed to helping the Nigerian Government in its fight against Boko Haram. We remain very concerned about ongoing attacks in Nigeria being perpetrated by Boko Haram, and we will continue discussing with Nigerian authorities appropriate steps to counter this group. We will work with the government and we are sure that Boko Haram will be defeated.
"Obviously, if we have issues with reports of things that they're doing, we will raise those as well. So I think they're very different situations, but clearly, we are committed to countering the extremist threat wherever it operates around the world"
Just two days ago, the United States and the United Nations had condemned the attack that was made on some students of the College of Agriculture at Gujba local government area of Yobe State on Sunday.
Jen Psaki, a Department of State Spokesperson, who reacted on behalf of the US government said that the United States stood with all Nigerians to reject the heinous violence that continues to be perpetrated by Boko Haram and other extremist groups.
The official continued that those attacks on innocent civilians had no place in a democratic society. He stressed that : "Following last week's heinous attack in Benisheikh, where more than 160 people were shot and slaughtered, this weekend's attacks in Yobe state took the lives of more than fifty innocent students and civilians. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in these senseless acts of violence".
She also urged the government of Nigeria to work together with the families of the victims and affected communities to find and bring those responsible for this deplorable violence to justice, and to enhance the protection of civilians to ensure respect for the rule of law.
In his swift reaction,the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, strongly condemned the murder of more than 40 students and the wounding of several others by gunmen at an agricultural college in Yobe state.
