FIRST LADY,PATIENCE JONATHAN RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR DANA PLANE CRASH!!

The First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan came under criticism yesterday as news of the alleged closure of the nation’s airspace for a Presidential jet conveying her to Lagos on Sunday went viral on BlackBerry Messenger and online social networks.


The closure was said to have prevented the pilot of the distressed Dana Air’s plane from making an emergency landing at the airport. Reports circulated claimed that although the Dana plane had an engine failure, the distressed aircraft could have made it to the airport if it was not delayed by the VIP movement.


However, in response to this, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, said the airspace was never closed for the First Lady on Sunday. He noted that the First Lady arrived in Lagos at about 4.45pm on Saturday, 2nd June, 2012 and only departed for Abuja on Monday, the 4th of June, 2012 at 1.30pm, whereas the ill-fated Dana flight 0992 departed Abuja on Sunday, 3rd of June, 2012 at 2.54pm and its last contact with the Lagos Control Tower was at 3.42pm as has already been announced.


The rumours prompted a response from the Office of the First Lady:


I am responding to the rumor mongers because of the involvement of the script writers of those that wish to heat up the polity of Nigeria at every event or given opportunity. Like they have always done, using every opportunity to make Nigeria ungovernable. Why would a group of people in different disguises want to play politics with this sad event just to get back to political rivals or superiors?


This morning, reports from one Ade Atobatele….Information Technology and Services has filtered the air. Don’t know which of the firms that is, claimed that the Dana Airline misfortune was caused by the closure of airspace for the first lady’s aircraft. He was quoted as saying he was informed by a pilot of a private Jet that also had to hover in the air for 2 hours 15mins before the airspace opened for landing. He has conned his story that the social, electronic and print media has started reporting it without verifying his source.