Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, says Vice-President Kashim Shettima needs a new aircraft as a matter of urgency.
Recall that on October 25, the vice-president aborted his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa.
Explaining the reasons for the VP’s action, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had said that Shettima’s trip was cancelled due to a damage to his aircraft.
Onanuga said a “foreign object” damaged the cockpit’s windshield, adding that the incident occurred during a stopover at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, United States of America.
In a statement issued Sunday, Lawan said Shettima’s life is at risk, and that the vice president needs a new aircraft.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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 an urgent need to acquire a new aircraft to Senator Kashim Shettima so as to avoid these recurrence of air mishaps.”
