Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, yesterday, relived events preceding the take off of the ill-fated Navy helicopter that crashed last Saturday in Bayelsa State, killing former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi and four others. They said they escaped death by the whiskers as they were scheduled to board the ill-fated helicopter.

FOLLOWING last Saturday’s helicopter crash in Bayelsa State which claimed the lives of former Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa and erstwhile National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi and the setting up of an investigative team to probe the incident, the Senate, yesterday, urged the executive to publish reports of previous investigations into air crashes before any new probe could attract the confidence of Nigerians.

The Nigerian Navy, yesterday, insisted that its helicopter that crashed last Saturday in Okoloba community in Bayelsa State, killing Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa and erstwhile National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi (Rtd) was certified to fly by a ‘Certified Technical Support Engineer’. The Navy made the clarification on a day the investigation team set up by the Federal Government led by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba arrived Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa to commence investigation.

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Patrick Yakowa and erstwhile National Security Adviser, Gen Andrew Azazi (rtd.), were solemn but smiling last Saturday after listening to a message on the brevity of life and the vanity of riches preached minutes before they boarded a Navy helicopter that crashed within 10 minutes of take off.

Six persons were killed yesterday when a naval helicopter in which they were travelling crashed and burst into flames in the forest of Okoroba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, shortly after take-off.