Crashed copter: Nigerian governors to engage consultant

As controversies continue over the possible cause of the crash of naval helicopter that killed Patrick Yakowa, the former Governor of Kaduna State and General Owoeye Andrew Azazi, former National Security Adiviser and four others, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum said on Monday that it will engage an independent consultant that will participate in the process of unraveling reasons behind the incident or act as an observer of the investigative process.

This was the major outcome of an emergency meeting of NGF summoned in response to the plane crash in Abuja on Monday.

Rotimi Amaechi, River State Governor and the Chairman NGF who read the communiqué of the emergency meeting said the engagement of the independent consultant is to ensure sincere investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal helicopter crash.

This, he said is to ensure that the investigation is open and transparent.

“Members support the directive of the president for a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the helicopter crash and calls for transparency and openness in the process,” Amaechi said after the meeting that lasted over four hours.

“Forum further resolved to engage a consultant to participate in the investigation process or serve as an observer.

“Forum condoles the President, the Vice President, the Government and the People of Bayelsa and Kaduna States. Forum also condoles the families of Governor Patrick Yakowa, General Andrew Azazi their aides, Dauda Tsoho and Mohammed Kama; and the pilots, Murtala Daba and Adeyemi Sowole, who died on Saturday’s ill-fated helicopter crash,” the NGF Chairman added.

The Governors moved to Kaduna to commiserate with Yakowa family after the meeting.