Senators yesterday called for the resignation of the Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah, citing frequent air crashes under her watch.

They said Nigeria had witnessed a record of seven fatal air mishaps with two averted within the last two and a half years.
The senators were speaking on a motion on last week’s crash of Associated Airlines aircraft in Lagos which killed 13 people. Two others died later in hospital.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said, “In sane places when things happen people take responsibility and resign. Others commit suicide for the failure of their subordinates.”

Senator SmartAdeyemi (PDP, Kogi) said investigation he conducted in Lagos for three days revealed that the aircraft was on a “test flight” which was why there were many aircraft engineers onboard.

“Somebody might have thought of making quick money. Some times in this chamber we must speak the truth. Corruption is responsible for the air crashes in Nigeria,” he said

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (ACN, Lagos) said it was irresponsible of the minister to frighten Nigerians that accidents were inevitable.
“Why should she say so? It’s scaring. Does that mean that each time we travel we will be afraid? This should be investigated and we should stop playing politics with the lives of people and address the issues.”

Senator Jibrilla Mohammed Bindo (PDP, Adamawa), said it was embarrassing for the aviation minister to say that air mishaps are inevitable because “she doesn’t know what it takes to be a minister, she should resign”.

Senator Adamu Ibrahim Gumba (PDP, Bauchi) who also argued that Oduah has no business remaining in office after witnessing seven air crashes under her tenure as a minister.
Senator Olu Adetumbi (APC, Ekiti) said, “It is time to speak the truth to power because we are tired of this obscene media propaganda about achievements in the sector just to promote the government and the minister while we keep having crashes every day.

Physical infrastructure is a good thing but that is not a good reform, rug carpets and tiles do not make the reform of aviation, it has to do with the people who manage the sector and the procedures.”

Senator Ita Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom) said, “She concentrated on the infrastructure and the aesthetic of the airports and not on quality and standards of aircrafts flying which is given the least attention. They are more interested in awarding contracts, it’s good to have tiles, granites and marbles, flashy flat screens and new roofs but is that what aviation is all about?”

However, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki (PDP, Kwara), said the greatest respect the Senate can give to those who lost their lives in the air crash is to prevent such from happening again by holding those responsible accountable.

Senator Joshua Dariye (LP, Plateau), reminded his colleagues that they threw out a bill he sponsored which sought to compel the president to nominate ministers with their portfolio which would have ensured that only experts and professionals in aviation are appointed as ministers but not accountants.

The Senate mandated the aviation committee to investigate the crash as well as to summon the minister for questioning.
The Minister’s office however said yesterday it was not aware the Senate was calling for her resignation.

The minister’s S.A Media Joe Obi told Daily Trust on phone, “The one I am aware is that she should appear in plenary before them, I am not aware of the call for her resignation, I am aware that at plenary they made some comments. I cannot comment on that.

Senator Ita Enang (PDP, Akwa Ibom)
said, “She concentrated on the
infrastructure and the aesthetic of the
airports and not on quality and
standards of aircrafts flying which is
given the least attention. They are more
interested in awarding contracts, it’s
good to have tiles, granites and marbles,
flashy flat screens and new roofs but is
that what aviation is all about?”.

naijaking1: Only s't'u.p*d people will act before investigation is completed. All these FFK cheer leaders who were calling for her head even before anything happened should zip it.

Senator SmartAdeyemi (PDP, Kogi) said investigation he conducted in Lagos for three days revealed that the aircraft was on a “test flight” which was why there were many aircraft engineers onboard. “Somebody might have thought of making quick money. Some times in this chamber we must speak the truth. Corruption is responsible for the air crashes in Nigeria,” he said

Chima_Adeoye: [size=15pt]All these useless Yoruba/ APC bigots.

In all of Nigeria's history even when Ministers like Fani Kayode licensed planes for their girlfriends to fly airline businesses, when was an Aviation Minister ever asked to resign because of an aircrash? But because Madam Stella Oduah is Igbo, now she must resign,even when NCAA and not the minister is responsible for licensing planes.

If they are not doing their campaign of calumny against Dr. Okonjo Iweala,it will be against Diezani K. Alison-Madueke or Stella Otti.

Why not ask Omobola Johnson, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, Akinwumi Adeshina and Olusegun Aganga to resign for their lacklustre performance in government?

Anyhow, like Okonjo Iweala told them recently " I serve at the pleasure of the President who appointed me and who shall relieve me of the appointment when my performance falls below his expectation" Simply put, SORRY, I WILL NOT RESIGN FOR SHAMELESS TRIBALISTS AND BIGOTS![/size]

dmalam:
pls.let us not deviate from the issue by bringin tribal/religious differences..............the majority of if not all tht died in the recent crash happend to be yorubas, but dts not the rizin y she shld resign, stella shld resign bcs of her incapality,puttin it on GOD is irresponsible!

We dnt care if she is yoruba/igbo/hausa ,ol we wnt is a person who can do the job

SLIDE waxie: if it were to be in the developed world, the statement:

'Plane crashes are inevitable' should got her jobless and facing the firing squad!!!

By the way, like stella like diezani, no one can sack jonathan's mistress!!

Chima_Adeoye: [size=15pt]All these useless Yoruba/ APC bigots.

In all of Nigeria's history even when Ministers like Fani Kayode licensed planes for their girlfriends to fly airline businesses, when was an Aviation Minister ever asked to resign because of an aircrash? But because Madam Stella Oduah is Igbo, now she must resign,even when NCAA and not the minister is responsible for licensing planes.

If they are not doing their campaign of calumny against Dr. Okonjo Iweala,it will be against Diezani K. Alison-Madueke or Stella Otti.

Why not ask Omobola Johnson, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, Akinwumi Adeshina and Olusegun Aganga to resign for their lacklustre performance in government?

Anyhow, like Okonjo Iweala told them recently " I serve at the pleasure of the President who appointed me and who shall relieve me of the appointment when my performance falls below his expectation" Simply put, SORRY, I WILL NOT RESIGN FOR SHAMELESS TRIBALISTS AND BIGOTS![/size]

Symphony007: before you decend into your tribal demeanor. Note that the first person to call for her resignation is eke ekweremadu. The deputy senate president and a fellow igbo.

Symphony007: before you decend into your tribal demeanor. Note that the first person to call for her resignation is eke ekweremadu. The deputy senate president and a fellow igbo.

Ngwakwe: Stop this misinformation and drop your tribal lens.

If so, why didn't Mrs Clinton and Susan Rice resign after all their failures, lies and complicity in the death of Ambassador Stevens plus three others

Stella Odua is responsible for what she said and not for your bigoted and political interpretation of what she meant.

odua boy: The foolish bigot is too stupid to see that,When the education minister was sacked it was because of incompetency,now that stella oduah is being asked to resign it's because everyone hates ibo,majority of ibo posters on nairalnad reason with their brain stuck in their butt.

Ngwakwe: You see, sometimes people like Ekweremadu will ingratiate oneself with someone by making obscene statement.

It all politics, he tends to projecting a false principle as unbiased leader but can never try it with Aganga or any Yoruba or Hausa minister.

berem: I am highly disappointed at your comments. I can't believe you and some other Igbo bigots will be so tribalisitc about the appointment of Stella Oduah as minister. You should know on records that Igbos have lost more lives in the air crash than any other ethnic group during her tenure. The Dana air crash is a perfect example. What do you say about that? Not because you didn't lose a loved one in any of the crash makes you care less about those who did. Sentiments aside, Stella should be fired immediately and another competent fellow be appointed. I don't really give a damn where the new minister should come from.All we want is no more crashes and loss of lives.

berem: I am highly disappointed at your comments. I can't believe you and some other Igbo bigots will be so tribalisitc about the appointment of Stella Oduah as minister. You should know on records that Igbos have lost more lives in the air crash than any other ethnic group during her tenure. The Dana air crash is a perfect example. What do you say about that? Not because you didn't lose a loved one in any of the crash makes you care less about those who did. Sentiments aside, Stella should be fired immediately and another competent fellow be appointed. I don't really give a damn where the new minister should come from.All we want is no more crashes and loss of lives.