BREAKING: I Am Sad – Says Peter Obi
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Dr Peter Obi, says he is currently in a sad mood over the ill-fated Air Force helicopter and an ambush that claimed 36 soldiers in Niger on Monday morning.
Obi expressed this feeling in a statement he posted on his official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
The Nigerian Air Force on Thursday announced that an MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed in Niger State.
Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the aircraft crashed in Chukuba Village, Niger.
According to him, the cause of the air mishap is yet unknown.
Obi described the incident as unfortunate and disheartening.
He expressed concerns over the deplorable level of insecurity in most parts of the country which he said had continued to cost the nation precious lives and property with the attendant economic costs.
Obi also expressed sympathy for families of the patriotic slain soldiers who had paid the supreme price for their fatherland.
“The continual loss of lives, of our military men and other citizens, to insecurity is very painful and disgusting.
“We must unite as a people, to subdue this monster of insecurity threatening our collective existence, without which no development will be experienced in the country,” he said.
While commiserating with the military agencies over the sad incidents, Obi urged them not to be dispirited over the challenges they faced but to see them as the inevitable path to go before achieving a safe and secure nation for all.
“I commiserate with our military agencies whose personnel have continued to pay the supreme price, for peace and security in our nation.
“I want you to remain courageous and resilient in the fight. I will also like to encourage a full-scale investigation to be carried out to unravel the cause of the helicopter crash as a way of preventing future occurrences,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor restated his commitment to ensuring safe and secure Nigerians, adding that fighting insecurity in the country would always be his top priority.
According to him, “fighting insecurity squarely remains my priority in the New Nigeria, and so should it be, for long-lasting peace and progress in Nigeria.”
He prayed to God to grant eternal rest to the dead, console their families and console the nation over the great loss.
