The Minister was reacting to erroneous claims that he was present at the take-off of the ill-fated helicopter from Bayelsa State that crashed killing 6 people including the Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa and the former National Security Adviser General Andrew Azazi.
We asked the Minister to give us a detailed account of the events. According to the Minister, after the burial of Oronto Douglas father’s, the Minister along with Kanu and Ogbonnayo Nwankwo, Timi Alaibe, Ben Bruce’ Jnr brother, Sani Umar, the Special Adviser on Media to Vice President and the late NSA, were invited back to Douglas’ house for a meal. The Governor, NSA, the Minister and Sani Umar discussed getting a helicopter together at 3pm but Umar later declined. The Minister decided to stay in the compound whilst all the others decided to go into the house. Whilst waiting outside, an earlier helicopter arrived to pick up guests at 2pm. The Minister decided to take the earlier ride with another group including Kanu Nwankwo and Timi Alaibe.
The Minister had already arrived in Port Harcourt when he heard news of the crash. Indeed, without the arrival of the 2PM chopper, he also would have been on the ill-fated helicopter. In essence he was not in Bayelsa State when it happened.
The Minister expressed surprise that few media houses were deciding to focus on him when many families were mourning the loss of loved ones and further added “the media should be an instrument to carry news fairly, accurately and without biased.” He prayed that Nigeria as a nation will witness more progress, developments and have respect for each other in 2013 and onward.