Tuesday 5 June 2012

Lest We Forget


 I know we have all heard about the recent plane crash in Nigeria. So many lives lost needlessly.
Soon - after the dust has settled -  the media will move onto something else. Similarly, most of those who were unaffected by the plane crash will all move on .........to the latest news item.........the latest red carpet event........the latest political shenanigans........the latest beauty competition......the latest celebrity divorce.......the latest 'upper class wedding'..........
Parents who lost children will never forget; spouses who lost their partners will never forget; children who lost parents will never forget; friends who lost loved ones will never forget.

Lest we forget........ here is a timeline of recent plane crashes in Nigeria: 

>> Sept. 26, 1992 – A Nigerian Air Force C-130 crashed minutes after taking off from Lagos airport. Around 200 people died.
>> June 25, 1995 – A Harka Airlines Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-134 crashed at Lagos airport, killing 15 people.
>> Nov. 13, 1995 – A Nigeria Airways Boeing 737 crashed on landing in Kaduna, killing nine people.
>> Nov. 7, 1996 – A Boeing 727 operated by Nigeria's ADC crashed on its way from Port Harcourt to Lagos. All 142 passengers and nine crew died.
>> May 4, 2002 – A Nigerian EAS Airlines BAC 1-11 crashed in Kano. At least 148 people were killed, 75 on the plane and at least 73 on the ground.
>> Oct. 22, 2005 – A Nigerian Bellview Airlines Boeing 737 airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos. All 111 passengers and six crew were killed.
>> Dec. 10, 2005 – A Nigerian Sosoliso Airlines DC9 from Abuja crashed on landing in Port Harcourt, killing 106 people, half of them schoolchildren on their way home for Christmas.
>> Sept. 17, 2006 – Twelve Nigerian military personnel, mostly high-ranking officers, were killed in a plane crash in Benue state. Six survived.
>> Oct. 29, 2006 – An ADC airliner with 114 passengers on board crashed and burned after take-off from Abuja, killing 96 people.

This means that over the past 20 years, Nigeria has lost at least a thousand lives to plane crashes. This is not God's will. 

To better understand how bad this is....... one must note that since the UK started operating in Afghanistan in October 2001 - as part of coalition forces - 417 British forces' personnel have died (as at 3rd June 2012)

This means we are losing more people during peace time than other countries who are at war.  I read somehwere that 'What is right is often forgotten by what is convenient' (Bodie Thoene, Warsaw Requiem). This describes Nigerian processes and procedures perfectly. 

To all who are in positions of power and influence but choose NOT to do the right thing, I say....You have blood on your hands !!!


46 comments:

  1. what can I say, you have said it all. A country in war has lost 417 personnel in eleven years while our there country the so called 'Giant of Africa' has lost about 626 civilians in just ten years in the time of peace.
    What shame!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting
      This is truly a sad thing to happen

      Delete
  2. Sad indeed, NIL the reality is scary. May the souls of all the dead continue to rest in perfect peace.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for opening my eyes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you found this useful
      Thanks for dropping by
      xxxx

      Delete
  4. And this is not just about numbers but about the horrible deaths of human beings. The tears in my heart cannot be compared to the pains of those who lost their loved ones; breadwinners, hope etc.

    And like you said, there will always be blood on the hands of those who could have done something to avert some of these crashes but chose to look the other way.

    My heart goes out to all those that lost their loved ones and to all the grieving Nigerians whereever they may be.

    ReplyDelete
  5. They may well have more bloods on their hands if you also think about the hundreds of thousands of lives that are lost every year on our roads because those in authority have turned a blind eye and as such accidents occur as a result of:
    -Bad and poorly maintained roads (contract scandals leading to shoddy jobs)
    -Reckless driving/over speeding (no speed limits and where they are available, they are not enforceable)
    -Drink driving (no laws against this and if we do have one, not enforceable)
    -Improperly trained drivers (only in Nigeria can anyone hop into a vehicle and drive because with money and knowing the 'right' people, they can obtain a driving licence!)
    -Accident cars and insurance write-off vehicles are allowed to be imported (accidents waiting to happen)

    I can go on and on but the reality is we have no regard to safety in Nigeria whether it is air or road transport or even in various industries.

    Until we begin to do the right thing and hold people to account when they don't, then sadly we'll have future tragedies of this nature to deal with.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As always, you have expressed your views so succinctly that I agree with all you said
      The main issue is accountability.....*sigh*

      Delete
  6. It is terrible, I tell you. We have a ways to go yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Myne, its not a small journey ahead of us
      I believe it is actually easier to put a colony on Mars than it sis to solve the Nigerian conundrum
      I am hopeful sha
      Thanks for dropping by
      xxxx

      Delete
  7. I dont know what to say to the whole thing..............am still so confused and in shock

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel you my sistah
      The whole thing leaves one confused
      Where do we start from........?
      Thanks

      Delete
  8. Its so sad. May their souls rest in peace!

    ReplyDelete
  9. And for we all, who can, but refuse to force the right thing to be done... we have our conscience too!
    the move for change starts with you and I!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree my sister
      2015 is round the corner my sistah - let's see who will sell their votes for rice and fish........mmmmm
      Thanks my sistah

      Delete
  10. hmmmmmm, very very sad!
    I just pray for the souls of the departed that they will rest in peace
    May God heal our nation in Jesus name!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Real blood on their hands..and we have our part to play too 2015

      May God heal our nation indeed. Amen!

      Delete
    2. Omoba, Amen my sistah
      Hope all is well with you?
      xxx

      Delete
  11. ... And thousands have died in road accidents, due to bad inter-state and intra-state roads. These deaths too are avoidable because some people have just pocketed the money instead of doing their jobs.

    These numerous deaths are not the problem, they are the symptom of the problem.

    Sorry for my rant. I am really sorry

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No need to apologise Atilola
      Summer is here again and our so called 'guardians of the nation' are over here spending willy-nilly and boosting the UK economy............while our citizens die needlessly
      *sigh*

      Delete
  12. They've had blood on their hands for a long time.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True my sistah
      Do they even care???
      Hope you are well my sister
      xxx

      Delete
  13. Wow! This truth is hard to swallow! It's tough to accept this as part of our History as a people...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes oh.....it is part of our history
      Unfortunately, we dont seem to be learning at all
      *sigh*
      Hope all is well sha
      xxxx

      Delete
  14. The question is : what is going to change this time? We fear what the answer would be and hope we would not be proved right in a year or two.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adura, I live in hope but.........
      Hope all is well with you
      xxxx

      Delete
  15. I hope this time we don't forget it and move on please.
    There's been way too many tragic events for us to continue acting like all is well. All is not well, something has to be done ASAP

    ReplyDelete
  16. Do we count the countless which are lost to the bomb blasts which have now become normal for us. Our Nation is now very pathetic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True true, the bombings have now become the norm
      The mind boggles oh

      Hope all is well with you dearie
      xxx

      Delete
  17. You are absolutely right. This is not the will of God. But how many of us remember what normalcy is? We have adopted the attitude of "If I don't make noise me and my household will be safe" and it is ruining us. Of course, I don't blame us. Who wants to die? Hisss at this palava. God save us, amen. And give us the strength to stand up and say NO!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I go with this line of thought....we all talk....their souls rest in peace.

      Delete
    2. I agree but we MUST talk...
      Silence is consent
      The world must hear that not ALL Nigerians approve of the rubbish that is happening in our name
      Thanks dearie
      xxxx

      Delete
  18. The Nigerian situation is such a scary one. Where do we start? Who do we talk to? Do they care? how do we make them care?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Where do we start - Each can stop bribing for a start
      Who do we talk to - Each other and whoever listend
      Do they care - 'they' meaning our dear custodians?...No
      How do we make them care - Vote, Talk, Stop supporting corrupt officials .........?
      Thanks dearie
      xxx

      Delete
  19. comparing the death toll to the death of british troupes really brings things to light...

    and then politicians come and yarn dust.. infact. i dont even know what to say or who to blame. actually, i dont want to blame anyone, i just want EVERYONE TO DO THEIR JOBS WELL! from washermen (iron and wash properly) to the president.. rule the country well... police men stop taking bribes and protect the people! ARRGHH #icantshout

    if everyone did their own jobs well.. not what they think their job is o.. but what their actual job description tells them to do then I believe Nigeria will be a much better place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel you mys sister
      You have spoken well *sigh*

      LOL @ 'yarn dust'
      xxxxxxxxxxx

      Delete

I always look forward to reading comments from visitors - so please leave yours. Many thanks for dropping by....xoxoxox