Nigeria’s Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo Involved in Helicopter Crash 14 Days to General Elections

With barely 14 days to the much-anticipated presidential elections in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, the news that the country’s vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was involved in a helicopter crash while on campaign duties on behalf of the president, Muhammadu Buhari, threw the country in uncertainty. A few seconds after the crash, news agencies and social media platforms in the country were all over the news.

The crash occurred in Kogi state, where the vice president had gone to continue the campaign to rally support for the president and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with whom he is running for a second term bid.

Video clips of the crashed helicopter show the chopper balancing awkwardly on one side while rescuers were battling hard to bring the victims out into a waiting ambulance.

However, the vice-president and crew members on board were unhurt.

The vice-president proceeded to deliver his campaign speech as planned shortly after the crash at the palace of Obaro of Kabba.

In his speech, Nigeria's vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo expressed his gratitude to God and fellow Nigerians for their concerns and prayers after his helicopter crashed, and reaffirmed that no injuries or casualties were recorded.

"We are extremely grateful to the Lord for preserving our lives from the incident that just happened.

"We are safe and sound. Thank you to everyone who has expressed concern, and thank you to the crew who managed the situation well.

"We believe that God will continue to keep us and Nigeria safe even as we go higher. We continue Next Level engagements in Kabba, Kogi State."

"Everyone is safe and no one is maimed. God has kept us safe and alive, delivered us from death so we can do more for our people and country;" he said.

The accident occurred in Kabba, one of the largest towns in the state, which has a predominantly Yoruba population.

It is believed that further investigations will be carried out to ascertain the reason behind the crash.

Top opposition leaders including the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, and Senate president, Bukola Saraki, were amongst those who have expressed concerns over the incident.

Header Image Credit: Vanguard