SIGNALS sent out by the National Emergency Management Agency about a helicopter crash near Bayelsa State have been confirmed to have claimed the lives of Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa and a former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi.
Although unclear how the crash occurred, the urgency of an earlier signal from NEMA, the agency that oversees emergency situations in Nigeria, prompted sharpedgenews.com to ascertain who the occupants of the crashed aircraft were, especially as the crash occurred near President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state of Bayelsa.
According to sources, the duo of Yakowa and Azazi were part of the people who traveled to Bayelsa for the funeral ceremonies of Mr. Oroto Douglas’ late father.
The air crash is the latest of high-profile crashes in Nigeria, following the October crash of a small airplane piloted by Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai. He remains in Germany, where he is undergoing medical treatment for injuries sustained. The state of his health continues to generate conflicting reports in the news media.
Mr. Yakowa emerged as governor of Kaduna following the selection of his predecessor, Mr. Namadi Sambo, as vice president to President Goodluck Jonathan on May 20, 2010. Prior to his ascension as governor, Governor Yakowa was deputy governor to Sambo.
The former National Security Adviser, Mr. Azazi, served the President Goodluck Jonathan government until he was relieved of his appointment in June this year. Prior to his appointment as National Security Adviser, he served in the Army as the Chief of Army Staff between 2006 and 2007, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.