Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike on Tuesday shared details of a terrifying flight incident that nearly claimed his life, during a thanksgiving service that has since sparked widespread reactions online.
The former Rivers State governor narrated how a private jet he boarded suffered a mid-air scare just 15 minutes into a flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos.
The Bombardier Global Express, a luxury jet valued at over N15 billion, experienced engine failure at 34,000 feet, forcing pilots to make an emergency return.
Wike, who had gone to the Air Force Base in Port Harcourt to join his wife and daughter who had just landed, boarded the jet with two friends for a routine trip to Lagos.
“My wife went to Lagos to bring my daughter. They landed at the air force base. I was waiting, so they made me go to the airforce place. So after they landed I entered the plane to Lagos with two of my friends. Somebody was waiting for me in Lagos,” he recounted.
“The plane carrying me and two of my friends, 15 minutes after takeoff I heard a sound, the air hostess was running. I said what is the problem? She ran back and told me one of the engine has dropped, and the pilot advised to go back to Port Harcourt. He said it is safer. So we returned back to Port Harcourt. One of my friends said ‘I have not told my wife anything o.’ To the glory of God we landed safely.”
A viral video from the service shows Wike praying aloud onboard the distressed aircraft, crying out:
“Satan, you are a liar! … Father, Jehovah, Blood of Jesus!”
“Jesus, you are in charge! Save my soul!”
Wike praised the pilots for their professionalism and credited God for ensuring their safe return.
“I thank God I’m alive,” he said.
Wike testimony comes after he revealed that the newly reconstructed International Conference Centre in Abuja has been renamed in honour of President Bola Tinubu.
The renaming was officially unveiled on Tuesday, during the commissioning of the centre, which coincided with the president’s second anniversary in office.
Wike said the decision was to recognise Tinubu’s leadership and commitment to infrastructural development in the nation’s capital. He noted that the project, valued at N39 billion, was delivered within eight months due to the president’s support.
Several halls within the centre were also named after key government officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas and Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
During the commissioning, Tinubu directed that all ministries, departments and agencies must now pay to use the facility, a move aimed at ensuring proper maintenance and sustainability of the iconic edifice.
