Federal Executive Council Concludes Proceedings For The Year With Special Session For Victims Of Helicopter Crash; Memos Dropped Till 9th January 2013

The last Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the year was shelved in honor of late Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, their aides, Dauda Tsoho and Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal and the pilots, Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba  and Lt. Adeyemi  O. Sowole, that were involved in  the ill-fated military helicopter crash.

President Goodluck  Jonathan, presiding over the one and a half hour ceremony, described December 15th as a black Saturday in the history of the nation as all the victims served their country selflessly.


The solemn ceremony saw condolences messages from ministers from the Kaduna and Bayelsa states, South-South, North-East, North-Central, South-East and South-West.

Part of the ceremony included a minute silence in the memory of the victims and the signing of two condolence registers for Governor Yakowa  and Gen. Azazi, by all cabinet members present

President Jonathan described the late Governor Yakowa as a different breed of politician who never exploited ethnic nor religious sentiments for selfish ends and who believed in the unity of the country.

On the other hand, he said General Azazi was a fine and selfless officer who served his country meritoriously and who meant well for this country. 

Vice President Namadi Sambo said he received the news with great shock and deep pain, especially the death of Governor Yakowa, a peaceful and selfless gentleman who he said he knew and interacted with for over 25 years .

As for General Azazi, Vice President Sambo said he was a fine gentleman, who he knew when he became General commander commanding one Division Kaduna.

Information Minister,  Labaran Maku, who moved the motion for the council to condole Mr. President, Vice President and the Nigerian People, narrated how he escaped death by whiskers saying that itwas simply twist of fate that kept him, Timi Alaibe and Umar Sani from boarding the same helicopter

And so the accolades swung back and forth from Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Abba Moro, Ministry of Interior Affairs , Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME), and Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,National Planning Minister, Shamsudeen Usman and Minister of Niger Delta Development, Godsday Orubebe

Though on a sad note, the Council of Ministers has concluded its business for the year and is to resume on the 9th of January