AS I watched the usually very beautiful Stella Oduah Ogienwonyi, Minister of Aviation, painfully explain to the nation the issues surrounding the Dana airplane crash, one could tell she would rather be found elsewhere, in more buoyant spirits. This certainly was not her turf, nor was it her routine. But you see, we never know what may prevail when duty calls.

Captain Bode Olubiyi was my Uncle. He died on the 20th of April 2012. He had been ill for three years. In the stretch of his career as an airline pilot, he had flown for most of the major airlines in Nigeria: Nigerian Airways, Okada Air, Chachangi Airways, Virgin Airways etc. His career spanned over thirty years in flying Nigerians on Nigerian planes. I was of the opinion that he had impeccable instincts where his job was concerned.

The crash of the DANA Air aircraft in Iju, a Lagos suburb, no doubt has dealt a heavy blow on the nation’s aviation industry. This is not just because of the crash itself but also because of the hasty actions so far taken by government.

EDO State was recently in the forefront of national news as a result of several fatal incidents which occurred in the State.

DEMOCRACY ensures peaceful transfer of power because it recognises the people as the ultimate repository of power. And as such, power is derived solely from the will of the people. Democracy does not guarantee the election of good leaders. However, it empowers the people to peacefully remove bad and/or discredited leaders.