SPEAKER of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, has said the life of Vice-President Kashim Shettima is at risk as a result of the “faulty” presidential aircraft he uses to represent President Bola Tinubu in official engagements across the globe.
He said this after Nigeria’s number two citizen cancelled his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa over an incident at an airport in New York, United States.
According to the presidency, Shettima could not proceed to Samoa because a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the president on Information and Startegy, had said some parts of the aircraft, including the windscreen of the cockpit, was damaged during the incident.
Commenting on the situation in a statement issued in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Sunday, Lawan called on the Federal Government to get Shettima a new aircraft to avoid any tragedy.
He said the aircraft designated to the Vice President has had several incidents in recent times.
“I want to sympathize with the Nigerian Government, especially the office of the Vice President, his crew and staff over the unfortunate incident at JFK Airport in New York, U.S.A.”
“I also express my gratitude to Allah (God) for saving the precious life of our dear Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima and those on board the ill- fated VP’s plane, even as I urge the Nigerian government to demand a thorough and timely investigation from the United States government over the incident that affected Vice President Kashim Shettima’s plane at one of the most secure spots in the World.
“The life of the Vice President, and that of his crew/officials stand at risk while using the old and faulty presidential aircraft.
“Therefore, there is the urgent need to acquire a new aircraft to Senator Kashim Shettima so as to avoid these recurrence of air mishaps,” he said.
Early this year, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence mandated the Federal Government to acquire new aircraft for Tinubu and Shettima, but the presidency came under intense public scrutiny and in the end, only that of Tinubu was acquired.
