A Unionist, Mr Peter Esele says it’s high time the National Assembly carried out a public probe to find out causes of incessant military plane crashes in the country.
Esele, a former president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria said this in Benin, Edo state on Saturday.
He was reacting to the plane crash on Friday in Kaduna State that claimed the lives of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and other top military officials.
He noted that Friday’s military plane crash was the third this year, with a total of 20 lives lost so far.
He however said the cause of the plane crash could have been lack of proper maintenance or lack of adequate training of the pilot.
“It is unfortunate that the COAS, the number one soldier in the country was being flown in an aircraft maybe not properly maintained.
“Recall that the Vice President of the country some time ago, was involved in a plane crash, but luckily, he survived it.
“Yet no body has been set up to ascertain the reason for these increasing crashes with a view to avoiding future occurrences,” he said.
Esele who noted that he heard that the military wanted to set up a probe panel, said the national assembly was better placed to conduct a public probe with a view to finding out what was really happening.
” It worrisome that Nigerians do not have any idea why these military plane crashes are happening.
“As far as I’m concerned, this may be another preventable accident.
“My prayers go to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash,” Esele said.
