By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY— Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion has commiserated with the government and people of Ondo State over the plane crash that claimed the life of the state Commissioner for Tourism and other prominent indigenes of the state, last week.

He said the incident was shocking and sad for the nation and called for speedy investigation of the cause of the crash involving Association Airline.

His words: “I was really shocked like many other Nigerians because late Dr. Agagu whose corpse was equally in the plane was a great politician whom majority of us feels he does not deserve this type of painful incident. I commiserate with the Ondo State Government, the Falae family and all those who lost their loved ones in that crash.

“We pray that the Almighty God will grant mercy to the souls and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

The former Governor who also reacted to reports in the social media linking him to the ownership of the crashed Associated Airline, debunked the reports, describing it as the “handiwork of my detractors.”

He said:  “People can be wicked some times. Some of my friends called me to say that people are insinuating in the social media that the crashed Associated Airline belongs to me. This is not true. I want to say that I have no hand or business in the running of Associated Airline.

“I will advise those peddling such rumour to repent and rather dissipate that energy to pray for the souls of those involved in the crash rather than peddling rumours.”