By Musa Ubandawaki (Sokoto State Correspondent)
Jarma Umaru Kwabo Foundation based in sokoto state, has organized a special prayer in honour of the 19th Sultan of Sokoto late Alhaji Muhammad Maccido Abubakar III and other victims that died in the ill-fated ADC plane crash of 2006.
Speaking during the special prayer, Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Umaru kwabo Jarman Sokoto, said it was 16 years since the ill fated plane crashed two minutes after take off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on it's way to Sokoto, at Tungar Maji, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said the ill-fated plane consumed prominent people of the state including the legendary spiritual leader and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Maccido Abubakar III.
Jarma further told the gathering that his foundation would look in to the possibility of turning the special prayer into a yearly event on the 29th of October.
He said the special prayer became necessary considering the tremendous contribution of the victims to the socio-economic and religious development in sokoto state and Nigeria in general.
"the whole country came to knew Senator Sule Yari Gandi when it came to contributions on the floor of the National Assembly during his time which the whole country appreciates" says the convener of the special prayer.
Scholar after scholar spoke.during the prayer session and explored the virtues of the victims during their life time, while praying to God to grant the souls of the victims eternal rest.
The Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Mannir Daniya, who represented Governor Tambuwal at the occasion, thanked the organizers for their foresight. He said the state Government would continue to support any organization or group working to ensure peace in the state at whatever level. The deputy governor stated that sokoto state would continue to remember the victims for their contributions during their lifetime.
On Sunday 29th October, 2006 at exactly 11:30 am time, Aviation Development Company (ADC) Airlines Flight 53, Boeing 737 with Registration Number 5N-BEF bearing a Scheduled Passenger Flight, crashed at "Tungar Maji area of Abuja shortly after the plane took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on its way to Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto.
Weather condition was said to be the primary cause of the incident, but other sources stressed that the crew pilot ignored warnings on the wind shear given by the airport control tower. The ill-fated crash claimed the lives of 98 passengers and 5 crew members on board.
The lead headlines of the day was the demise of the Muslim's Spiritual Leader in Nigeria, His Eminence, The 19th Sultan Of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Maccido Abubakar III .
Some of those involved in the crash are: The popular Sultan Of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Maccido Abubakar III, Dr. Sanusi Usman Junaidu, (The then Sokoto State Commissioner for Education), Sen. Badamasi Muhammadu Maccido (Distinguished Senator Representing Sokoto Central Senatorial District), His Excellency Alhaji Garba Muhammad MNI (The then Deputy Governor of Sokoto State),
Others are the Alhaji Abdulrahman Shehu Shagari, Sokoto state nost outspoken Senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Senator Sule Yari Gandi, Alhaji Umaru Babuga Dange and many more.
So far, there have been 16 Plane Crashes since Nigeria's history. The first occurred on 20th November 1969 and the last was on the 3rd of June 2012. NNL.
