Our reporters

Lagos—Nigerians, yesterday, reacted to the plane crash involving the family of late Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State in Lagos, describing the incident not only as shocking but a double tragedy.

Among those who reacted to the plane crash included members of the National Assembly, Governors Theodore Orji and Idris Wada of Abia and Kogi States respectively, the Kawu Baraje-led new People’s Democratic Party, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Senator Chris Ngige, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr Mike Omeri, Senator Annie Okonkwo as well as the Ondo State chapter of the PDP.

An Associated Airline plane conveying Agagu’s body crashed in the morning leading to the death of 15 people including the crew members.

Crash, more than double tragedy—Mark

The Senate President, David Mark, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba described the death of victims of ill-fated plane as very cruel.

According to them, the crash was “more than double tragedy” not just for the families and the people of Ondo State but Nigeria as a whole.
Also, members of the House of Representatives described the crashed Associated Airline conveying Agagu’s corpse and other members of his family as disheartening, unfortunate but promised to investigate the matter.

The Senate President, Mark said: “It is sad. It is disheartening. This is death is too cruel. This is one tragedy that a man is tempted to question the essence of human existence. But as ordinary mortals, we lack the locus standi to question our creator. In all circumstances, we give thanks to the Almighty. May God’s wish be done.”

According to him, ‘’the Senate shared in this pain and indeed grieves over this unfortunate incident” just as he prayed that God gives the nation especially the immediate families of the deceased the fortitude to bear “this painful loss.”

Ekweremadu
On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, described the development as ‘’a rude shock given the progress made in repositioning the nation’s aviation sector, including the tremendous improvements in aviation safety in recent times.

“I feel most saddened over this unfortunate incident, and send my heartfelt condolences to all the affected families and pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of all those who lost their lives.”

He further reiterated his call on all Nigerians to pray for the nation saying, “Nigeria needs divine intervention in addition to the government’s efforts to mitigate such occurrences.”

Tambuwal
Speaker of the House, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal also described the crash as ‘’tragic and sorrowful,’’ even as other members of the House of Representatives pledged to ensure thorough investigation of the incident.

Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said: “As we await the full details of who and what we as a country had lost, my thoughts are with the Agagu family and all the other families involved in this tragedy. I pray for strength for all those involved, and speedy recovery for survivors.”
A terse message issued by the former Vice President’s media office in Abuja yesterday, said the news of the air crash and the resultant deaths was difficult to believe, yet true.

The condolence message reads: “As we await the full details of who and what we as a country had lost, my thoughts are with the Agagu family and all the other families involved in this tragedy. I pray for strength for all those involved, and speedy recovery for survivors.”

Sen Ndoma-Egba

Also speaking, Senate leader,Victor Ndoma-Egba, while commiserating with the families of the victims of the air mishap, called on the aviation regulatory authorities to take total control of the situation.

He said that the frequency of air disaster in the country was worrisome
His words: “It is a very tragic incident; tragic because the body of Dr. Agagu was on board. He was being taken to eternal place of rest only for this to happen.”
Chairman House of Representatives’ Committee on Aviation, Nkiru Onyejeocha said though “it is disheartening, an investigation has to be carried out to ascertain the remote causes of the crash.”

Wada
In his reaction, the Kogi State Governor, Captain Wada said the crash was ‘’shocking and unbelievable,’’ pointing out that it “as a disaster of many consequences.”

A statement signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, said “Captain Idris Wada received the news of the crash and the attendant casualty with shock and disbelief. Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the demise of the former governor and this disaster is of many consequences.

”His (Wada’s) heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives and the injured. This is one disaster too many. May God grant the departed, a peaceful repose of their souls and their families the fortitude to bear the irreversible loss.”

NOA boss
The Director General of the NOA, Mike Omeri in his reaction, said Nigeria has lost much in the several disasters that had occurred and asked God to give the families of the victims the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said it was ‘’deeply saddened by the death of other promising Nigerians in the ill-fated flight and commiserated with the families of the dead and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Baraje
On its own, the Kawu Baraje- led new PDP, in its reaction said it received the news with shock.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said: “The PDP  has learnt with shock of the plane crash that took place in Lagos this morning (yesterday) in which several lives were lost.
”As confirmed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, the Associated Airlines’’ aircraft had engine failure ‘’on takeoff and it crash-landed and burst into flames.”

Orji
Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State in his reaction also described the  plane crash as “highly devastating and shocking.”

According to his Chief Press Secretary, the governor “was yet to come to terms with this ugly incident which has thrown the nation mourning.’’

He then condoled with Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the people of Ondo State as well as the Agagu family and urged them to bear the “this great loss with fortitude”.

Sen Ngige
The PDP in Ondo State in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Ayo Fadaka, said it received with deep shock the news of the crash, adding that the incident was not only incomprehensible but unprecedented.

Senator Ngige also described the crash as devastating and asked the regulatory authorities to investigate the matter properly to prevent such occurences in future.

Sen Okonkwo
In the statement through his Special Assistant, Media, Mr Collins Ugwu, the All Progressive Congress National Deputy Chairman, South, Senator Annie Okonkwo, said: ‘this is a national grief beyond immediate comprehension and a family truama without easy parallel APC chieftain urged Nigerians to be unsparing in their prayers for unusual mercies on the families of the bereaved as they contend with this heart rending disaster, cautioning that those who were divinely spared death from the crash must not be lost to human indiscretion   and rescue tardiness.

Lagos Government
Lagos State Government also described as “monumental and unfortunate” the loss of lives of people in the ill fated Associated Airline plane which crash-landed yesterday in Lagos.

The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, who spoke said the  government received the heart rending accident with shock and dismay.

“We, government hereby, commiserate with the families and friends of the deceased including Ondo State Government in particular and indeed the whole country over this irreparable loss,” the government added.
On its part, the Lagos State House of Assembly also commiserated with the entire people and government of Ondo State as well as the families of the victims of the crash.

Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Strategy, Segun Olulade said that the the plane crash came as a huge shock, adding that it pained everyone to their marrow.