Federal lawmaker under fire for using ADC plane crash to mock coalition against Tinubu

A federal lawmaker in Nigeria has come under fire for using a 2006 ADC plane crash as an analogy to warn people against joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a political platform adopted by the opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.

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The ADC Airline flight 053, a Boeing 737-200, crashed shortly after takeoff from Abuja Airport, Nigeria, killing 96 of the 105 passengers onboard.

For many Nigerians, the loss of loved ones in the crash remains a painful memory.

The lawmaker, Clement Jimbo, who represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State in the House of Representatives, used the plane crash as an analogy to predict that the newly adopted opposition ADC will crash like the ADC flight.

“How many of you remembered the ADC flight 53 that crashed in 2006? It’s back again to crash again. Please don’t board!” he wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.

The lawmaker’s post, which has garnered over 230 comments, sparked outrage from Facebook users, particularly those from Akwa Ibom State.

“I remember my uncle was on that plane. Till date, we cannot get over the loss. If this is a joke, please stop it,” a Facebook user, Eno Ekanem, commented on the post.

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“Are you mocking the dead?” another user, Ofonime Honesty, asked.

“It’s insensitive to use events where people lost their lives to draw this narrative,” another commenter, Abasiama Udousoro said.

Several other Facebook users who commented on the post accused the lawmaker of mocking the dead.

Mr Jimbo did not respond to a text message or calls from our reporter seeking his comment.

Not the first time

This is not the first time the lawmaker has come under fire over his Facebook post.

This newspaper reported last year how Facebook users criticised the lawmaker for telling a man who claimed to be a student on the social media site to take up some menial jobs. The man told the lawmaker he needed money to pay for his tuition.

Mr Jimbo made a post on Facebook under which the user had commented, asking for financial help to pay his school fees.

“If you want to break even early in life, study, understand, and practice delayed gratification. #YouthSlot nuggets,” Mr Jimbo wrote on Facebook on 30 March 2024.

In response to the post, Tony Ofon, whose Facebook profile shows he studied at the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, commented: “My MP, Inemesit Clement Jimbo, please, I need your help to pay my tuition fees. My semester exams start next Wednesday.”

“Roll your sleeves and work on a construction site. A day’s work as a site operative earns a minimum of 5k,” Mr Jimbo replied to Mr Ofon’s request, a response that triggered a backlash.